video games

I have not played a video game in years. I know now.... I have not missed anything!
Last night while fixing supper I overheard Alayna raising her voice at the computer. I had to go see who and what she was talking to. It was an I Carly game. When you miss or get a low score it says.... What were you thinking!

What happen to encouragement???????????????????? Like, Try Again??????????????

She totally got her feelings her and in a broke up voice says..... it said, What were you thinking.
It got to the point that I had to make her cut the game off.

As if this world don't have enough discouragement but for a video game to cut you down is just plain ridiculous.

I am sure there are much worse games out there but my little girl is just sensitive.

Remembering Randall

Today has been such a sad day. The battle is over. Randall passed away this evening at his home with his family by his side. He had a glimpse of Heaven a few days ago and now he is there in his new body.

Yesterday we visited with Randall and Jenni. He had gotten worse overnight. He had a fever and his breathing was heavy. They knew it wouldn't be long. I was hanging on to a miracle for them. I didn't think it would be this soon. I didn't want it to end this way. I prayed so hard and at times I could almost see Randall healed but God had other plans.

I have never hurt this bad for a friend and their family. They are such dear friends to us. It is hard to believe this disease has taken over his body this fast. I have prayed so hard for a miracle. I know we are not suppose to question God but in times like this is just so hard to understand WHY!

This was Randall on Halloween at Lindsey's school party. He was such a fighter with a unbelievable spirit. Notice the smile on his face.

He was a picture of health 6 months ago. We have so many fond memories of Randall. He was a special man. He loved everyone, especially his family and his girls. He loved my girls. He would treat them as his own. I have been trying to remember all the times we got to spend with him and I came across a blog I wrote a couple of years ago. I took Aubree with me to vote and we went to the back room and sat down beside Randall. We were in there with all men. After a few minutes Aubree lets out a big poot on my leg and Randall said well, Holly. I know my face turned three shades of red.

He has always had a pick for Aubree. He loved the way she talked and her facial expressions. She could get him to saddle up a horse with just a sweet smile. She made him laugh. He loved making kids happy.

My girls still remember him pushing them on the big swing on the tree in his back yard. I remember in July at Lindsey's birthday party him pushing all the kids for a long time, when he didn't feel good. He apologized to me because Aubree was wanting to ride the horse and he just didn't feel like getting it out.

He felt so bad and apologized to us for not being able to help us with the garage. He always thought of other people before himself.

He loved motorcycles and I am not so fond of them but between him and Dwayne they talked me into going for a ride. Randall took me for a ride and for a minute there I understood the freedom people feel from riding a bike. Randall had a very loud bike. I could be in the house and hear him coming and think yep here comes Randall.

It just seems like yesterday that he would drive by in his truck and wave. If we were ever outside he would pull in for a chat. I AM GONNA MISS THAT!

I know Randall is OK! He is in glory with his Lord and Savior!

Now it's just figuring out how life goes on for Jenni and the girls. ONLY GOD CAN HEAL THEIR PAIN!

I can not even imagine what they are going through. The hard part is just beginning.

It was the hardest thing I had to do was to tell Alayna and Aubree that Randall died. Alayna's look was if she was waiting for me to tell her it was a joke. I immediately told them he went to heaven. Now, Aubree has been saying.... Randall is in heaven. My girls are going to miss him dearly. They really took up with him and Jenni.

My heart breaks for Jenni and the girls for what they are going through. They are a strong family and with lots of prayers they will make it through.

Pray for comfort and peace for them. Jenni has been sooo strong throughout this time. She amazes me how much she has laughed throughout this six months. I know and she knows it just by the grace of God.

I remember so well, one thing Jenni told me a few weeks ago. She said, enjoy life and don't worry about the little things. She said a year ago they were the normal family. Had a busy busy life with three girls and took everything for granted. Now it has all changed!
This really stuck with me...... She said, ya know I wish me and Randall would have GOT IT a long time ago. We have had IT for the past few years and it has just been so fun.

It means.... life itself, enjoying each other, loving each other, being thankful for what God has given you, respecting each other, laughing together, just really getting what life is all about.

When you get IT you will know.

Girls, be thankful for your husband. Be thankful for what you have and not what you don't have because what you have can be taken away!!!

To the Blacks... I am so thankful to have you as my neighbors. I love each one of you and will be praying for you all. We will get through this together.

To Jenni... I am so thankful for our friendship. You have taught me things about myself through this very hard time and God will make something good out of this. I look forward to many years of laughs and cries together. Love you!

I feel privileged to have known Randall. He was a genuine Godly man!
Found these videos of Randall thought you might enjoy. He had a love for horses. His gentle soft voice seem to sooth the horses.

WE WILL MISS YOU RANDALL BUT WILL SEE YOU AGAIN SOMEDAY!

Road Trip part II

Notice anything about these pictures?????????????????????

THERE IS NOOOOOOOOOOO CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have been car shopping for a couple of weeks for Dwayne a car. The black/green bullet has almost had it. (well at least for us) After, a few things going wrong we got serious about looking for him a car.

We looked all over the Internet, checked on wrecked cars and used cars. We found one on the Internet and did all the background checks on it and it seemed to be a good deal. We jewed them down to what we thought was a really good price. THE ONLY THING WAS IT WAS 400 MILES AWAY. We talked about it and decided to go and try to get it. We rented a car so we could ride back together.

So, Tuesday at 2 in the morning off we go to Dillon, SC to buy a car. We get there around lunch and immediately Dwayne is getting a bad feeling about this car. Well, he was right. It pulls up and looks great from about 15 feet away. I am wishing the whole time that this will turn out to be a good car.

Dwayne immediately finds flaws in the paint (that was not noted on the Internet), the hood had an inch gap on one side, one headlight was all scratched up and the rubber piece around it was coming off. I open the back door to look in the back and Dwayne notices that the seat is crooked. He lifted up and the whole seat came up off the frame. IT WAS NOT EVEN LOCKED IN. (They knew we were coming all the way from Alabama to look at this car, ya think they would at least have the seats bolted down) After all that, we still drove it. It drove good but there was an annoying sound coming from the dash like something was loose in there. The power mirrors did not work, the passenger door would not unlock. We raised the hood and there was a piece dangling. (don't know what that was) By this point we are thinking they should pay us to take this car but we kept our cool and told them we would go eat lunch and talk it over.

We go to the local pizza hut down the road and have absolutely no appetite at this point. We talk it over and I am trying to justify the car as much as I can and it just ain't working.

There was this nice man working there so I tell Dwayne to ask him if he knows anything about this place (where the car is at). He does and comes back and says well, he said he hears nothing good about them. ( now, i just want to crawl under the table and die) So, one man's opinion was not enough...... two nice men sit down right beside us and we ask them. They laugh....... yes they laugh. The one man looks just like Dave Ramsey! ( we are asking Dave Ramsey look alike for finacial advice and I am married to Dave himself. LOL) We proceed to tell them our story.... We are from Alabama and we saw this car on the Internet, we have been up driving since two in the morning, we get here and the car is not what we thought. They felt so sorry for us and I felt sooooooooo stupid.

Ends up one man works for the city and he said he don't know much about that place but he would not buy a car from them. The other guy spoke up and said what yall need to do is drive on down to the beach (myrtle beach) and enjoy the beach and look for a car somewhere else. They could not believe we had drove that far for a car. ( we couldn't either) The man that worked for the city came over to me as he was leaving and said.... mam, I am sorry you have drove this far but go enjoy the beach and I paid for you lunch. I almost cried. I don't know if I teared up because of how nice that man was or how embarrassed I was that he felt that bad for us to do that. LOL LOL

So, what did we do? We went and told them we were not taking the car and drove 70 miles to Myrtle Beach, stayed 30 minutes and started back home.

WE ARE SUCH IDIOTS!!!!!!!!!!!

We drove back towards home and finally stopped in Madison, Ga because we couldn't hold our eyes open anymore.

The next morning we are refreshed but still disgusted that we drove all that way for nothing.

I can see it in Dwayne's eyes and he can see it in mine what we are thinking........ Dagummitt, we are buying a car.

We know of a place in Alpharetta that has some nice cars so we stop in and test drive a Maxima. That was the roughest ride I have ever felt. The steering wheel shook, my legs shook and the whole front end shook. we are sooo not buying this car!

We have given up at this point. It is so bad that Dwayne says he is gonna fix the black bullet and drive it until it dies completely.

Yall are gonna love this!!!!!!!!!!!!

We get home and I tell Dwayne to call Pop that buys and sells Altima's. He did. He had one and we are buying it.

It took us a trip to South Carolina to find a car in Ider. LOL LOL LOL

This is not the end of our bad luck.

I dropped my cell phone in the toliet and flushed it, it died and there is another 50 bucks we are out! Crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pissssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!! ( I know you are wondering what was in the toilet, Piss!)

It's not over yet!!!!!!!!

We have been told by our yard man a.k.a. Paw Paw Gerald that we have a bulldog of some kind living in our garage. (ya know, the one with no doors) He mowed while we were gone and it scared him to death. It growled very mean like and he was scared. So, when we get back home we pull up and shine our lights in the garage and there he is laying there asleep. Man did he look mean. I get out and walk towards him calling here puppy puppy. (He ain't no puppy) I just thought he might like that better. He raised up and looked at us and went back to sleep. He was not going anywhere. He found him a nice big dog house and was not giving it up.

So, we call the police to see if they know a pound or anything that would come get him. They couldn't get one to come out but they did send the local cop on duty. He came and we all just stared at the dog. Nobody wanted to get close to it. Finally, after some talking they decided get close and spray it with mace if needed. I take the girls inside in case bullets go flyin!

They ended up spraying the dog until they were out of mace and finally the dog got up and walked off.

We have not seen it since and I hope we never do.

Finally our adventure is over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Road Trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Has anyone ever bought a car on the Internet??????????? 400 miles away???????????

I know, it sounds really stupid and very risky but if it turns out to be everything it is suppose to be it is a good deal. It is for Dwayne to drive to work but a family car too!

Remember the movie Newlyweds? That will be us!! We have rented the smallest,cheapest, compact car to drive up there.
I will post a pic later of the new car if everything goes well.

Pray for Randall,Jenni,Alicia,Allison,& Lindsey Black

This family is so dear to me! Most of you probably have heard their story by now and have been praying for them. I ask you to please continue to pray for this precious family as their days are getting harder and harder seeing their daddy/husband getting worse week by week. For those who may not know.... Randall has been diagnosed with a rare brain disease that is incurable. For more on this rare disease go to http://www.cjdfoundation.org/ to read more about it.

Alayna and Lindsey are best friends and through that our family and theirs have became close.

We have been neighbors with them for almost eight years but have really been close to them for several years. I still am in shock that this is happening. Randall, only 39 years old was a picture of health 5 months ago and now their world has turned upside down. If I remember right, Jenny said in May he was playing full court basketball, in June he was feeling a little dizzy and tired, in July he went on a business trip with his brother out west and visited the Grand Canyon, in August he was using a cane, in Sept. he was using a cane and a wheel chair, this month they took a family trip to Disney world and he is in a wheel chair all the time. He is wearing glasses and is seeing double. This is how fast this disease is taking his life. They have not really had time to take this all in and really prepare because of how fast this disease is.

Randall has said from the very first of all this that he is OK and if it is God's will for this to take his life then he is OK but he still believes God can heal him and that is what we all are still praying for. I ask that you pray that too. God is still in the miracle making business if we just have faith and believe.

Please remember Jenni as she has so much on her right now. Pray that God will give her the strength in the everyday chores to just make it to the next day and to also give her the words to tell her kids that will give them comfort in knowing that their Dad is going to be OK and that they will be OK.

I feel like a horrible friend to Jenni. When she looks at me and says... Holly, what am I going to do! I wish I had the right thing to say but I don't. I know I just look at her with a blank look on my face while shrugging my shoulders.

It just breaks my heart to see this family go through this! I just think.... why them? if them it could easily be me!

They are a Godly family and Randall is a Godly man and that is the only reason they have not completely fell apart. I know through this storm there is going to be sunshine!

PRAYERS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING BUT IF YOU EVER HAVE SOMETHING LAYED ON YOUR HEART TO DO FOR THIS FAMILY PLEASE ACT ON IT. (IT IS GOD)

Life

Sorry, Life has taken over and left no room for blogging. I have lots to blog about if I can remember all of it now.LOL Now, that school is back in maybe I can rejoin the blog world.
Gotta go for now. A certain 3 year old is begging for my attention. :))

Summer

SUMMERTIME, SUMMERTIME, EVEN THOUGH IT FEELS LIKE FALL. (WEIRD, HUH)

There is no time for blogging these days. Getting up doing the normal mommy duties and then basically outside until dark. My Aunt P and Uncle J gave the girls a little 4 wheeler and oh my gosh do they love it. It don't go fast at all but it is just fast enough for them. Alayna drives all over the yard and thinks she is so big. (she is such a good little driver) I think the wreck she had at 4 years old did her some good. lol

Aubree can even drive it... with mom right behind holding the pull string that cuts it off if she goes too fast. ( and she does) I am really getting tired of cranking and running after that little four wheeler BUT to see my little girls and the whole community have fun it makes me do it over and over again.

We have even grown our own watermelons this year (by accident). We picked our first watermelon grown on a concrete patio. Well, to say the least... looks are deceiving. It was white inside. (don't know what happened, it was huge and looked ready to pick to me)

Dwayne is building us a garage, BY HIMSELF, and with the help of any good friend that would be so kind to help. lol (hopefully with a little knowledge in carpentry work)

So far so good but still a lot to be done.
If we are not out in the yard we are probably swimming. This year I can actually sit back and watch them have fun and not be so hands on. Alayna has finally gotten over her fear and goes down the slide and off the diving board. SHE LOVES IT. Aubree goes all over with floats.

Mary Kay

Most of you know that I sell Mary Kay but for those of you who don't...... well, I wanted to let you know.

I don't do much with it anymore besides sell to a few friends and family. I don't want to spend my time away from home selling it but I do enjoy it on the side.
I do love the products Mary Kay offers, it is always reasonably priced and very trendy.

I would love to have more customers, so for the month of July every new customer will get the choice of any item at 50% off with a $20.00 purchase and to all my customers, you can get the choice of any item at 50% off with a $5.00 purchase.

Also, for the month of July all eye colors and mascaras are buy 1 get 1 free.

Go to www.marykay.com to check out all the new items. (tinted lip balm is awesome)

(you do not have to be local to buy from me, I don't mind mailing orders)

Thank you all and I hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Jon and Kate Plus 8

Did anybody see last nights episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8?

Yall, they filed for divorce. This can't be. I was so hoping they were gonna pull through and make good of a situation gone bad. If they would just confide in JESUS and get off TV I believe they could work through it. (that's just me not knowing the half of it but I do know Jesus can fix anything)
Awwww! My heart still hurts for that family. I hate that those sweet eight kids are going to have to go through this and most of it has been on TV. That is the saddest thing.
I have watched this show so much it kinda feels like a friend going through a divorce.
Pray for this family. Even though they are on TV they are a real family!

Happy Father's Day!

We have the best Dad ever!

I hope everyone had a great Father's Day and got to spend time with your father or special man in your life.

I know I had a great Father's Day. We spent the weekend at Weiss Lake and had a blast. To all who don't know about chestnut bay resorts you are sooo missing out. Go to http://www.chesnutbayresort.com/ and check it out. We stayed in a huge house that was big enough for all 15 of us. It was so nice to be with my Dad and my whole family this weekend.

It was so fun that we all decided we would rather go there than the beach next year.

A few highlights from our trip.......

Aubree almost went off into the lake on her bike. ( Thank goodness she wrecked and Uncle Brent was there to save her)

Mom and Dad flipped over on the jet ski as they circled the boat to get off.

David Hasselhoff a.k.a my husband jumped in to save them.

A few minutes later..... Brent,Carter,and Braxton do the same thing.

We saw an eagle's nest with four or five baby eagles sticking their heads out.

Me and my sisters all wrote Dad a little letter about what we have learned from him and the son in laws read them and Dad had to guess which daughter it was from. ( That was a tear jerk er but so special.)

I went down a 100 foot water slide.

That is just a little bit of our weekend. I hope we have many more of these to come. I truly love spending time with my family. We all have so much fun laughing and making fun of whoever says of does something stupid.

These little girls have an awesome Dad too. I am so lucky to be married to a Godly man that loves his family and his girls so much.

Lake Winnie

We recently took our annual trip to lake winnie! We have been going for the past 3 or 4 years with a big group of friends and family. We always have a blast. It's a fun little day trip to let the kids or me ride rides until we puke. Well, this year it just worked out that I was the only adult except Whit ( thank goodness for energetic nieces)that bought a arm band and could ride all the rides with the kids. I am the lucky one that has a husband that gets nauseous on the tea cups (no kidding ) and the other husband (twin) is not so bad but the same. So they are useless!

All these years of riding all the fast, round and round, up and down rides and still in my twenties and the Elephants make me woozy! Whew! But I vow to never be as bad as the hubbies! I refuse!


Wouldn't you know Aubree's favorite ride were the Ephanus a.k,a Elephants. I went round and round so many times my head is still spinnin'.
Alayna and Sids favorite were the swings.
Just look at Alayna's legs, how long! Oh how it was just yesterday when her little legs barley hung down.

Sid was such a dare devil. She wanted to ride every ride there and insisted we ride in the spook house. I was like, sure go ahead....... then it come down to me to ride with her. Oh, No! What she don't know is I don't do good with spook houses especially, without my man by my side to squeeze his arm off the entire time. Well, I sucked it up and didn't let on that I don't want to go in that spook house with just a little girl to protect me. So, here we go arm in arm snuggled up in the center of that little car, we survived but she did admit when we came back into day light that the spook house was a bad idea..... I agreed.

Chain saws scare me even more than spook houses. Due to the trauma of my childhood LOL.

I am not sure how old I was but I still remember it to this day. We were at a spook house at a fire dept. and I had my whole family with me and my big Daddy walking with me through it and it still didn't help. The whole way through it, big scary people in really scary mask were jumping out at me and chasing us the whole way through and as I was to the end and thought I had did good to not cry... we were walking casually laughing about how scary it was and out of no where this chain saw cranks up right behind me and I don't think my feet hit the ground until I got to the car. I ran off and left Mom and Dad and whoever else was there. All I knew is that that scary man with a chain saw was not going to get me. I remember my mom and dad teasing me about not caring to leave them with the chain saw man.

Don't depend on me to save you from a chain saw man!

Rain

A couple of days ago, it rained cats and dogs . LOL (or two little girls)
The girls could not resist and had to run out and play in the steady down pour. It was unusual that it was just rain and no storm along with it. So, I didn't stop them. They played for probably 3o minutes and had more fun than they have ever had playing with any toy we have ever owned.
I caught myself just sitting back reminiscing when I was a kid and how much fun it was to play in the rain, mud or even skinny dippin while raining ( in my own pool only I promise.) Not that that makes it better especially, for those who swam in my pool all those years. Oh well, it was fun for me.

Anyways, back to my point. I know, I get caught up in the everyday have to's and don't always let my kids enjoy the things that God has given us to enjoy like the rain.

This little moment helped me to remember that my kids are happy with the simplest of things and if that is all I had to give them they would be happy.
Lesson to me, sit back and enjoy the things that God has so graciously blessed me with that is right under my feet.


Hearing all the laughs and giggles was priceless! It was all worth it even if they had to have a second and then a third bath before the day was over.

fPhoto friday

Beautiful Alabama.

T-BALL

T-BALL IS FUN IN ALL BUT...................WHEN YOU HAVE A LITTLE GIRL THAT DOES NOT WANT TO PLAY- SHE WANTS TO BE WAY OUT IN THE OUTFIELD SO SHE WON'T HAVE TO TOUCH THE BALL-SHE CRIES WHEN SHE GETS TAGGED OUT.... OH ME, AND THAT IS JUST A LITTLE OF THE DRAMA WE HAVE HAD THIS SEASON! ALL THAT MAKES FOR AN EVENTFUL SEASON OF WE ARE NOT DOING THIS NEXT YEAR. (MEANING, SHE AIN'T PLAYIN NEXT YEAR)

SHE ACTUALLY WANTED TO QUIT AFTER THE FIRST GAME!!! I SAID, GIRL YOU CAN'T QUIT..... YOUR DADDY IS THE COACH! PLUS, IN THIS FAMILY IF YOU START SOMETHING YOU FINISH IT.

SHE IS A REALLY GOOD BALL PLAYER, MINUS THE CRYING. YALL, SHE CAN HIT THAT BALL AS GOOD AT THEM BOYS AND RUN LIKE A DEER. SHE IS GOOD! I HAVE TOLD HER THAT. WELL, SHE DON'T CARE.

WE PLAYED OUR LAST GAME THIS WEEK AND I AM STOKED! OH, I MEAN I AM SOOO SAD! HUH

THE THING IS WE TOLD HER THAT WAS THE LAST GAME AND SHE WAS STOKED AS WELL BUT....... TODAY SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO PLAY AGAIN NEXT YEAR. OH ME!!!!!!!! HERE WE GO AGAIN!!

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE LAST GAME WAS WHEN S. FOUND A WORM IN THE OUTFIELD AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DUGOUT AND ALL THE GIRLS WERE SO EXCITED TO HAVE WORM TO PLAY WITH(NOT MEANT TO SOUND THAT WAY LOL) AND THEY EVEN SCARED A CERTAIN LITTLE BOY WITH IT.

I DO ENJOY WATCHING MY GIRL PLAY BALL AND ALL THE OTHER KIDS TOO. TO SEE AN IMPROVEMENT IN THEM JUST WARMS MY HEART!

Pop-it- lock-it Polka-dot-it

ANYBODY GOT THAT SONG STUCK IN THEIR HEAD???????????



I DO!!!!!!!!!



IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE GIRL YOU PROBABLY HAVE BEEN TO SEE THE HANNAH MONTANA MOVIE, WE HAVE, THREE WEEKS AGO AND WE ARE STILL SINGING THIS SONG.



ALAYNA KNOWS EVERY WORD TO IT AND MOST OF THE MOTIONS. I KNOW I AM GETTING OLD WHEN I CAN'T KEEP UP WITH A 5 YEAR OLD.

I CATCH MYSELF ASKING ALAYNA..... WHAT COMES NEXT?



AUBREE GOES AROUND POPIN IT AND LOCKIN IT RIGHT ALONG WITH HER BIG SIS.

WE ARE STILL WORKING ON DWAYNE! HE SOOO DON'T KNOW THE WORDS.

CLICK ON THIS LINK IF YOU WANNA POP-IT-LOCK-IT. LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlnbmZK7GxU

Mother's Day

Usually, I dread holidays. They are just to darn stressful and it makes me mad to have to tell my hubby what I want for every single one. (especially, Mother's Day) I figure after ten years he should know what I like by now or just give me the OK to go get what I want. And sometimes I don't want anything but time with my family.
I must say, he is getting much better. He took the girls shopping for gifts and I had a evening to myself! (peace and quiet is priceless, well, for a little while then I miss them.)
Alayna was so excited to tell me what she got me- Aqua globes. (ya know, the as seen on TV things) She has wanted to get me those for about a year now.
Aubree picked out a rose bush after she had to kick off her flip flops and run through the water in wal-mart garden center. I think they had a blast shopping with their dad! I loved my gifts!

This Mother's Day has been one of the best!
I am so thankful to have been given the chance to be a Mother. It is a gift that keeps on giving!
I love my girls more than they will ever know! I hope I can give them a life that they will look back on and be so thankful for.
I am thankful for my Mom and who she is and the life she gave me! (she's the best)

Love you Mom and thanks will never be enough for all that you have done and keep doing for me.

YARD SALE

To all you Yard Sale freaks out there...... I am having, probably, the biggest Yard Sale I have ever had, this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. There is going to be around 12 or more families participating. There will be lots and lots of baby clothes, boys and girls. There will we tons of women's and men's clothes all sizes and name brands. I have a infant car seat with matching stroller. Mom has a white baby bed,baby swing and stroller. There will be lots of toys. We will have new hairbows and new purses, also.

You name it and I might just have it sittin' in my front yard this weekend for sale.

All I can say is pray that it don't rain because we will have too much stuff to be able to cover it up.

fPhoto friday

Busy Beautiful Day

Oh, what a beautiful Thursday!!! I hope you all are able to be outside some today and enjoy the nice warm sun.

I have enjoyed it...... woke up, planted flowers, Aubree mooned a car going by as she decided to pee in the front yard by the main highway while I was planting flowers, went and got more flowers and planted them, Aubree and Carter rode in Big Truck with Dad, Aubree and Carter played while I washed my car, Carter had a wreck on the bicycle and hit his head in between his eyes, Aubree walked in front of Carter swinging (bout got knocked out), I ate a bowl of cereal for lunch ( I know, real nutritious) I do good just to eat something,we rode the 4-wheeler and checked on the cows-4 times (they are all OK) by now Aubree is ready for a nap, she is down and now I have time to clean,wash clothes, get a shower and get ready for Alayna to get home and off to her T-ball game. WHEW!!! I love days like this, I feel like I have accomplished something today.

I love warm weather! It means we can stay outside all day! Wear 'em out and they will sleep so I can have some me time and my house is not a disaster.

TAKE TIME TODAY AND LOOK AROUND AND SEE HOW BLESSED WE ALL ARE!
GOD IS GOOD!! ALL THE TIME!!

Beach

Oh, how I miss the beach already!!

We just got back from Panama City Beach this evening and we had soo much fun. I must say we were in desperate need of a family vacation. (well, I know I was)

The weather was just perfect! About 80 degrees, not too hot, not too cold. But hot enough to get sunburned!! We all were pink the first day on the beach except me...... I was red ripe tomato red and still am. Ouch, talk about hurting. I was even stupid enough to want to get in the scalding hot hot tub with the fam with a sunburn. STUPID!

We skipped the beach the next day and went to Gulf World! It was so much fun. I am not sure who enjoyed it more, me or the kids.

Check out this video of Duke the Sea Lion. He got some moves!

And the dolphins were awesome!

Wouldn't it be great to have a job where you got to swim with dolphins all day!

We hung out at Pier Park one day and rode the carousel at least fifteen times. ( all day pass was a bad idea. lol) About round six I was about to fall off my horse! It just took one round for Dwayne to be drunk! LOL Ain't he such a manly man!

Other than the normal sisterly fussing and fighting the whole way there and the whole way back and mostly in between we had one of the best vacations we have had.

Next time I will take the advice of sister S and make everyone, including hubby, wear pull ups there and back in the car. I am telling you what, we stopped 6 or 7 times on the way home for somebody to pee or poop. That would be stopping once every hour!!!

Cool breeze, white sands, waves crashing on shore, kids laughing, husband quiet (well for a few seconds at a time), the hour on the beach by myself, spending time with my little family. PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!

THE LORD BLESSED US WITH A SAFE AND WONDERFUL VACATION AND I AM THANKFUL FOR THAT!

IT IS GOOD TO BE HOME BUT IT SURE WAS GOOD TO BE AT THE BEACH!

Rabbit HATER!

IT'S OFFICIAL...... AUBREE WILL BE A RABBIT HATER THE REST OF HER LIFE!!!

I STARTED IT, SO I GUESS I AM TO BLAME!!

LAST SUMMER BEFORE SHE TURNED TWO I KNEW I HAD TO TAKE THE PASSY OR PAPPY AWAY! SHE REALLY LOVED HER PAPPY AND I WAS REALLY GETTING TIRED OF THEM SO I KNEW MY DAY WOULD COME WHEN SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN AND I COULD BLAME IT ON SOMETHING BESIDES ME. HA HA.

WE WERE RIDING THE 4-WHEELER THROUGH SOME WEEDS AND SHE DROPPED IT AND THE LIGHT BULB WENT OFF......

I TOLD HER THAT IT WAS GONE, SHE DROPPED IN THE WEEDS AND I BET A BABY RABBIT GOT BECAUSE IT WAS A BABY AND IT NEEDED IT.

THAT NIGHT SHE GOT SO MAD BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE A PASSY AND AFTER CRYING AND BEGGING FOR IT FOR A VERY LONG TIME ( I STUCK TO MY STORY) I TOLD HER ONCE AGAIN, THAT BABY RABBIT GOT IT, IT'S GONE AND...... SHE JUMPED UP OUT OF BED AND SAID NO, NO BABY WABBIT MY PAPPY!!!!!!!

STILL TO THIS DAY SHE DESPISES RABBITS....... SEE PICTURE BELOW.

POOR THING, I THOUGHT SHE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN OVER HATING RABBITS BY NOW.

GUESS I WAS WRONG!

SHE DIDN'T HEAR BRO. LUKE SAY A WORD WHEN HE WAS SPEAKING BECAUSE SHE WAS LOOKING OVER HER SHOULDER SAYING...... WHERE'S THAT WABBIT. I HELD HER THE ENTIRE TIME. I WOULD TRY TO PUT HER DOWN AND SHE WOULD SAY NO..... THAT WABBIT GET ME.

ONE TIME SHE DIDN'T SEE THE BUNNY AND SHE ASKED, WHERE THAT RABBIT GO...... CHURCH??????

SHE WAS JUST WISHING IT WOULD LEAVE FOREVER !

ONE OUT OF TWO NOT CRYING IS PRETTY GOOD, I GUESS!

fPhoto friday

I love this little tree!! Spring is here!!

Location: Yard

Camera: Canon Rebel

Mulch

We have been hard at it for the last couple of days getting mulch,mowing almost 5 acres, and trying to make the yard look pretty.
After 10 loads of mulch, 3 trips to get it, and 2 aching bodies we finished all but the back yard.



BEFORE

AFTER

I love mulch! It just makes such a difference in the way a yard looks but don't get me wrong ( I am not for hire) it is hard work!! I am glad it is a every other year thing for us.

Now, that the girls are a little older and I don't have to hold them and tend to there every need every 5 minutes, I can actually get in there and help Dwayne with all the yard work. I thought I had been doing a pretty d- a- r- n good job. I hooked and unhooked our trailer and went to get all the mulch with kids in tow. I threw mulch just as much as he did and I even spread mulch bare handed. ( I won't name a certain sissy man who must wear gloves to prevent his hands from getting dirty!)

Anyways, I was proud of myself, I thought I was really helping him out. Until, he made a little comment. We were talking yesterday about when he got home I would mow and he would mulch or vise versa. He says, well if you mow I want you to mow a little straighter than you usually do. Ummm??? Excuse me!!

I told him right then how that was an insult to me and he just better be glad that I will even mow the yard. (He is one of those straight line yard mowers, if you can't see straight lines and rows in the grass after you mow then you have done it all wrong.) Not me, I just mow the flippin grass!
I worry about stuff like are the kids eating healthy enough not if I can see lines in the yard. Just me though!!

So, I was mowing before he got home and the devil got a hold of me. he he!!
I mowed the front yard so nice and pretty to meet his expectations and then I saw my chance in the back yard to make some pretty designs. On about 2 or 3 acres I did a few figure eights, zig zags, and circles. I left it that way until he got home. I knew he would see it because it stuck out like a sore thumb. I laughed at myself all evening!

Do you know, he gave me no reaction! None whatsoever! I had to ask him if he noticed my designs. He said, yeah I noticed! He didn't think it was too funny.

I was going to write I love you in the grass but I am not that advanced in my yard designs yet.

Revenge is sooo sweet!

Again!!

I have been debating on telling this. It was bad enough the first time. I figured yall should laugh with me!!!!

Refresher: Last blog, Cat peed on me.

Next day: Cat peed on me again!!!

Do yall believe that!! That stupid cat peed on me again 2 days in a row. Why me????


I promise if it happens a third time yall will not know and we might be one less cat!!

One of those days!

HAVE YOU EVER JUST HAD ONE OF THOSE DAYS THAT YOU WISH WOULD END?

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS ARE ALWAYS KINDA CRAZY BUT YESTERDAY WAS JUST PLAIN NUTS!

FIRST OF ALL DWAYNE TELLS ME HE HAS TO WORK 1 HOUR 1/2 LATER THAN NORMAL. SO THAT JUST STINKS! THEN IT IS LIKE THE KIDS KNOW AND THEY FUSS NON STOP WHILE I AM TRYING TO COOK COOKIES FOR MY CUBBIES AT CHURCH.

DUE TO FEEDING KIDS, BREAKING UP FIGHTS, PUTTING KIDS IN THE CORNER, GETTING CHURCH STUFF READY AND TRYING TO FEED MY GROWLING BELLY.

I PUT THE COOKIES IN THE OVEN AND SET THE TIMER AND THAT IS THE LAST I REMEMBER ABOUT THE COOKIES!

WE GO OUTSIDE AND ABOUT 30 MIN. LATER I GO BACK IN THE HOUSE FOR A MINUTE AND THE SMELL ABOUT KNOCKED ME DOWN. ( I EVEN THOUGHT- WHAT IS BURNING?)

TWO PANS OF CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES ARE NOW CHARCOAL. I TAKE THEM AND THROW PAN AND ALL IN THE BACK YARD.

AS IF THIS DID'NT TICK ME OFF ENOUGH....... WHILE, SCRAPING THE CHARCOAL OFF THE PANS THE CAT PEES ON ME!!!! YES, MO PEED ON MY BACK!

OUR POOR NEIGHBORS, I AM SURE THEY ARE CONVINCED I AM NUTS NOW!

OF COARSE THEY WERE OUTSIDE DURING ALL THIS CRAZINESS.

I AM SURE THEY SMELLED THE BURNT COOKIES AND HEARD THE FIRE ALARM GOING OFF AND THEN ME YELLING WHEN I GOT PEED ON.

YALL KNOW MO-THE MOST WONDERFUL CAT IN THE WORLD. (WELL, NOT ANYMORE) BUT TO THE KIDS HE IS THE BEST. I HAD JUST GOTTEN HIM BACK FROM THE VET YESTERDAY FROM GETTING FIXED AND I AM CONVINCED HE WAS GETTING EVEN WITH ME BY PEEING ON MY BACK.

I STILL FEEL ICKY!!

Womens Retreat 2009

MOMMA, ME, AND SISTERS

SIS IN LAW KEENA,BFF FARRAH, ME, AND SIS SHANNON

OLD HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND APRIL. I LOVE THIS GIRL AND AM SO PROUD OF HOW FAR SHE HAS COME.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT A WEEKEND!

OTHER THAN ALMOST ENDING UP IN KENTUCKY INSTEAD OF TENNESSEE AND HAVING TO BACK TRACK AND THEN ENDING UP IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN BOON DOCKS INSTEAD OF OUR NICE LITTLE CABIN IN THE MOUNTAINS....... WE HAD A GREAT TIME! ( I LEARNED AND GREAT LESSON, DON'T DEPEND MEMORY TO GET YOU SOMEWHERE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE DIRECTIONS TO GO BY.) lol

I AM STILL TRYING TO LET EVERYTHING I HEARD SINK IN. I HAD A BLAST! I GOT TO LAUGH WITH A BUNCH OF GODLY WOMEN AND CRY WITH THEM TOO.

THIS WEEKEND WAS A MUCH NEEDED RETREAT FOR ME.

OUR CHURCH IS BLESSED WITH THE MOST AWESOME PREACHERS WIFE EVER. I THINK SO MUCH OF HER. NOT ONLY BECAUSE SHE IS JUST ONE OF THE GIRLS AND UNDERSTANDS EXACTLY WHAT WE ALL GO THROUGH FROM DAY TO DAY BECAUSE SHE GOES THROUGH IT TOO BUT MOST OF ALL SHE IS LIVING ON THIS EARTH FOR GOD AND DOING EXACTLY WHAT HE CALLED HER TO DO. SHE TRULY HAS A GIFT OF SPEAKING. SHE STOMPED ON MY FEET AND BLACKED BOTH MY EYES!! (HAD TO BE THERE) IT TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON TO JUST SAY WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID BECAUSE DEEP DOWN WE ALL NEED TO HEAR IT.

IT IS JUST AWESOME TO SEE 80+ WOMEN COME TOGETHER FOR THE SAME REASON AND THAT IS GOD!

I CAN SAY 100% THAT GOD WAS ALL AROUND US ALL WEEKEND LONG.

I KNOW THAT HE HAS WORKED IN MY HEART AND SHOWED ME THINGS ABOUT MYSELF THAT I NEED TO WORK ON AND I INTEND ON DOING THAT.

I CAN DEFINITELY SAY THAT I AM STRONGER NOW THAN BEFORE!!

WE HAD ALL KINDS OF FUN...... SOME WENT SNOW TUBING, SHOPPING, KARAOKE (SEE BELOW.)

I hope when I am Ms. Imogene's age I can move like her!! (move it girl move it)

IT IS SO GOOD TO HAVE FUN IN THE LORD!!
TO ALL YOU GIRLS THAT WENT, I LOVE YOU ALL AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR.

Booty Stank

LAST NIGHT I WAS FOLDING CLOTHES IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM AND AUBREE HAD CAME IN THERE BEGGING ME TO GO UP STAIRS WITH HER. I TOLD HER I WAS BUSY TO GO GET HER DADDY AND HE WOULD. SHE GOES TO MY BATHROOM WHERE DWAYNE WAS TAKING A SHOWER AND COMES BACK TO ME WINING AND I SAY...... WHAT IS IT? SHE SAYS.......DADDY CAN'T HE GOT BOOTY STANK.

I HEARD EXACTLY WHAT SHE SAID BUT WAS SURE SHE DIDN'T SAY WHAT I HEARD.

OH, BUT SHE DID. AFTER I LAUGHED MY HEAD OFF. I WENT STRAIGHT TO THE SOURCE AND HE SAID WHAT..... DID SHE SAY BOOTY STANK.

SO, I AM GONNA TO APOLOGIZE NOW FOR ANY OF YOU THAT MAY COME AROUND MY SWEET AUBREE. IF SHE SAYS YOU HAVE BOOTY STANK. PLEASE KNOW, SHE DID NOT LEARN THAT FROM ME!!!!!!!!!!

Paw Paw Harold

This world was blessed with 89 years of a very very good man!!

This morning I was awoke to some devastating news. Paw Paw Harold had pasted away!
This has been a very sad day for our family. Even though, he was 89 years old and had lived a wonderful long life, it is still hard to say goodbye.
I don't know what will be harder........ walking in over at Maw Maw's and not seeing him at that kitchen table or walking in and seeing Maw Maw by herself at that kitchen table.
I can't help but worry about Maw Maw. Harold was her life. They cracked me up, how they joked and aggravated each other all the time. They laughed at each other and you could just tell they not only loved each other but loved each others company. They both are such an inspiration to me and so many people.

My Red Lobster biscuits will never be the same. Harold loved my biscuits! At every get together he would get him a napkin full of my biscuits before anyone else so he would make sure to have plenty. That made me happy :))

It was only a month or so ago that you would pass him on the road in his mini van making his daily trips to Wal Mart (for toothpicks or gum) or to Henagar to meet up with his buddies at the local gossip shop (Jack's) to have coffee or breakfast. I soooo hope if I make it to 89 that I am still able to drive and take care of myself like he did.

Even though, Harold was not my Paw Paw by blood but by marriage, I still considered him my Paw Paw. I knew him many more years than I did my other Paw Paw (Edgar).
I know, he considered all of us his kids and grand kids.

He loved us and we all loved him! I am thankful for him to have been in my life.

Please remember my family in the coming days as we say our final goodbyes.

Love you all (family and friends are everything)

fPhoto friday

These are some beautiful red tulips (my favorite flowers) that my hubbie surprised me with on Valentines Day!

Taken with Canon Rebel

Place: kitchen counter

Thanks Natalie for hosting!

fPhoto friday

ME, UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. NOT SURE WHAT I THINK ABOUT IT.

TO MY HUBBY,

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! I AM STILL RED HOT FOR YOU!!! (lol, corny I know, thought it went along with the neon affect)

Thanks Natalie for hosting!

fPhoto friday

Thanks Natalie for hosting!
Taken with a sony cybershot.

Easy setting. Sepia tone.

25 Things you are dying to know about me.....right?

I usally don't take time to do these things but after reading Deedra's I thought it might be fun if I join in this time. So, here goes.


1. I put salt on lemons and suck the lemon dry after every meal I eat in a restaurant.

2. I laugh hysterically at things that happen to people when they could really be hurt. For example.... Dwayne fell in the bathroom the other night, I mean hard, on his hip and he didn't get up for a while. I think it took me 5 minutes to ask him if he was OK because I was laughing so hard. Every time I think about him falling I can't control myself to the point of tears.
I know, it's bad but I do care for the safety of other people as long as it don't cross me as funny.LOL

3. I can still do flips and jumps on the trampoline and off the diving board as if I was still 12 years old.

4. I once had a wreck in my own drive way. (when I was learning to drive)

5. I have headaches everyday.

6. I take Excedrin tension headache everyday before lunch to prevent it from getting worse.

7. I am a quiet and kinda shy person until you get to know me.

8. I have to get into my comfortable zone before I open up to people.

9. I have told a lot of people off in my 27 years. (remembering back in high school especially)

10. It takes a lot for me to tell somebody off and I usually dwell over it for a period of time.

11. If I know someone is upset with me I don't let it go on for long before I confront them and work it out.

12. I once inquired about a job with a crime scene clean up crew.

13. I can not stand being cold.

14. I take a shower in the morning and a bath at night.

15. Not that I am that dirty, I just enjoy baths.

16. I don't understand why somethings happen.

17. I like to try and figure out why things happen.

18. I would enjoy being a detective.

19. I have grown to accept that somethings are meant for us to never understand until we meet our Lord and Savior.

20. I have two brothers in heaven.

21. I love to watch NCIS with Dwayne.

22. I am not good with directions unless you tell me landmarks.

23. I would rather go out and eat than have to cook.

24. I have a drive to workout and get a rock hard bod. The problem is the drive only last 2 days max.

25. I am a God fearing women and still believe in miracles.

Here is my 25, now it is your turn. Tag you're it!

Pokie Moutains

Whoo Hoo! Dwayne officially has Saturdays off! So what did we do? We took a weekend trip to the smokies.
Despite Alayna was still recovering from surgery, we still had a great time. Actually, Alayna's best days were Friday and Saturday so we did get to go out and do a lot of things.
We didn't do much dining in due to Alayna's drooling problem because we didn't want to ruin anyone else meal.
I am sure we got a few weird looks when she was carrying her spit cup everywhere we went-shopping, tram to Gatlinburg, dixie stampede. ( bless her heart, she could'nt help it)
The best part was taking the girls to the Dixie Stampede. They absolutely loved it. Especially, Aubree. We couldn't get her to eat for 30 min. because her eyes were glued to what all was going on. She finally decided to eat and loved that whole chicken. It didn't bother her that it still had everything minus a head and guts.

She told everyone bout them horses that done tricks and going to the pokie moutains.

Touring the Mayfield Dairy Plant. (don't you think red is our color)

After surgery

These pics are before surgery and she was feeling real gooood! She was cracking us up!

She don't remember any of these pics.

First, Thank you all for the comments, texts, and phone calls that we have received. I love and appreciate them all. It is so nice to have people who truly love me and my family.

Alayna did so good. She was in and out of surgery within 30 min. She did cry on and off for a while afterwards but now that we are home she feels much better.

Our prayers were answered and we are so thankful!

Surgery

We take Alayna tomorrow morning to get her tonsils and adenoids taken out and tubes put in her ears. Say a prayer for her especially and one for me too! I don't get nervous about stuff like this, if it is me. I have found out when its your kids you tend to worry a lot more! I am a little nervous but I know she will be fine.

We just made a trip to the store to get ice cream and Popsicle's. So far it has been fun for her.
When we talk about surgery and going to the hospital, she thinks it is cool and gets all giggly.
I am sure the giggling will be gone tomorrow. This is her first time in the hospital so she thinks its gonna be fun. I am not about to tell her, she can find out for herself.

fPhoto friday

I love my cousins!!!

Keep praying for Hayli!!

How many ways can you cook hamburger meat??

SINCE WE BOUGHT A COW LAST MONTH, SERIOUSLY, WE HAVE HALF A COW IN OUR FREEZER, SPILT UP IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS!

I HAVE THE HONOR OF FIGURING OUT HOW TO FIX MEAT EVERY NIGHT FOR THE NEXT YEAR IN A DIFFERENT WAY SO WE WON'T GET BURNT OUT.

SO FAR, SO GOOD!

I FOUND THE EASIEST RECIPE ONLINE THE OTHER DAY AND FIXED IT TONIGHT.

TATER TOT HOT DISH
1/2 BAG MINI TATER TOTS
1LB HAMBURGER MEAT
SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE
1 CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP
1 CREAM OF CELERY SOUP

COOK AND DRAIN MEAT
MIX MEAT AND BOTH SOUPS TOGETHER
SPREAD IN CASSEROLE DISH
PLACE TATER TOTS ON TOP,COMPLETELY COVER TOP.
PLACE IN OVEN @ 350 FOR 45 MINUTES AND SERVE HOT.

SIMPLE AND DELISH! JUST THOUGHT I WOULD PASS IT ALONG.

Through it All

Need a good come to Jesus meeting????



I urge you to take 5 minutes out of your busy busy day and listen and watch this video.

Dwayne came across it yesterday on youtube and told me to listen to it and I have not been able to get it off my mind since.



It is amazing how God works. HE IS SUCH A ON TIME GOD!!!!



We had a wonderful- heartfelt church service yesterday and this song was just the confirmation that God was in our midst and working in our lives and HE knew exactly what was to come for the rest of the day.





May this song bless you as much as it has me!!!

The first song you all probably know. I need thee every hour.

The last song is so simple and true and is called Through it all!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2ULhi1szjk

fPhoto friday

I love this pic. He is looking at me as if he was offended because I kissed him. LOL

This was the night of Alayna's sleepover and I let the girls put makeup on me. So the black and white is for a reason. (to cover up the hidious makeover)

Taken with a sony cybershot.

In automatic setting.