Our newest baby

First, I want to thank our dear friends Jimmy and Kim for bringing this new bundle of joy into our lives (imagine me saying this with light sarcasm in my voice). Jimmy was kind enough to bring 3 puppies to our house tonight, so the kids could pick the one they wanted. After about an hour of our kids running back and forth between Michael and I saying "go ask your mom"and "go ask your dad", Jimmy drove away leaving one behind. Later Michael and I realized that neither of us had actually said the word "YES"...boy, one of us needs to take control around here!! She IS cute, hopefully she stays that way. The kids have decided to name her Daisy.
Jess gave her some water in this tiny bowl. She immediately dumped it over and started chewing. I guess that means I'll be getting her some toys to gnaw on really soon.

Better Late Than Never...

Well, I figured it was time to write a new post after a month and a half. We had finally started getting back into a routine after being gone for 4 weeks when the kids had spring break and I started my 5th quarter of school (only 3 to go!!). I am taking a color theory class on Fridays and Psychology and my second English class online. The reading load required when taking an online class is ridiculous!! So, most things (like blogging) have been put on hold until June 10th. The only reason I'm blogging now is because I should be writing an essay and I DON"T WANNA!!
Here are a few shots from our trip to Florida...

Tinkerbell was awesome! She told Casey, "Your mom must have magic fairy powers to make such a neat autograph book!" At least somebody noticed the many hours of cutting and gluing, and cutting and gluing, and cutting and gluing...you get the point ;)

Jacob and Michael's niece Valeri

Okay, these squished pennies were the best souvenirs ever! Even when all three kids got one it was only $1.53!! Talk about a bargain! I would definitely recommend taking a roll of quarters and pennies to Disney World. These machines were at every ride and the kids came home with quite a collection, but they were so cheap I never had to say no.

Here's the shot everyone that ever goes to Disney has to get...

This picture was taken at Gatorland in Orlando...
My Boys

Where we've been...

Well, I know that some of you know what's been going on in our world, but I think I'm ready to tell everyone else. When I last posted, we were on our way to the happiest place on earth. Our trip did not end so happily. Here's a rundown of what we squeezed in- Disney on Monday, Gatorland on Tuesday, Downtown Disney on Wed., and Thursday we headed to Universal Studios. The original plan was to go with Michael's sister (Paula) and her family, and his brother (Bruce) and his family. At the last minute Bruce decided that he shouldn't go due to some issues with work, this turned out to be a good thing. On Tuesday we got a call that Mike's mom(Ella) had been admitted to the hospital because she was having a hard time breathing. (She had been battling lung cancer for 4 years) Since we didn't want to worry the kids we continued with our plans, cell phones charged and in hand for the next 2 days. On Thursday afternoon, Bruce called and said that the doctors had only given Ella 24-48 hours to live. We immediately went back to the rental house, loaded the cars and raced to Massachusetts.
When we got there, she looked terrible with the breathing machine pumping her chest and all the other tubes and wires coming from her body. We spent the next few days in the hospital and to the doctors amazement she started to recover. Because the cancer had consumed 70% of her lungs, we knew she would never fully recover but she was able to come off the breathing machine and use only and oxygen tank. She was able to sit up and see everyone and talk to us all. They moved her to a nursing home after about 10 days in the hospital. We stayed for 3 more days and she was doing so well in her new place that we made the decision to come home. Paula and Bruce alternated their time with her for the next few days, making sure she wasn't alone for any extended period of time. On Thursday of that week, Ella headed down hill fast. She told the kids that she was tired and ready to go "home". Mike booked a flight out for Friday morning but didn't make it in time. She passed away on Friday, while she was alone. I think she didn't want her kids to be there when she went. It has been so hard on them. All 3 kids were very close to their Mama and they miss her so much.
I jumped on a plane the next day with my kids and we were in Mass for most of the week with funeral arrangements. The funeral was small but beautiful, and the cemetery where she was buried is across from the street where Bruce lives. He can actually see her spot from his 2nd story window. He's keeping an eye on her.
So, after almost a month of traveling, we're back home and things are settling down now. I'll try to get some pics from Disney up soon, I just didn't think this was the appropriate time. Thanks for all your thoughts, prayers, and cards. We really do appreciate them.

Guess what I found...

While cleaning up the garage Monday, I found my camera's USB cable. YAYYYY!!! Now I can blog with my pics again (not today though, way too busy). Apparently it got tangled with SOMEONE'S headphones and was taken to the car. This person (my middle child) left my cable in a pile of junk down there so it wouldn't get lost in the car...
Anyway, I'll be posting some fun stuff soon. Be on the lookout for a big mouse with red shorts and large white gloves. We're going to Disney World!!!

I strongly considered taking down my blog just now. I have had serious issues with getting pictures onto the computer lately. I still don't know where the usb cable is to my camera...It must have grown legs and walked away from the desk! A few days after Christmas, I decided to upload my pics using the SD card slot on my new laptop...THE COMPUTER ATE MY PICS!!!! They are gone from the card and they are gone from my computer!! I have been so upset about losing all of the pictures I've taken since September! Luckily I whined about it to the right person because I found out that the images are never truly gone from th sd card and that WalMart can send it to their lab and have your pictures recovered! I am so happy, thanks Renee!
Here are a few pictures that I stole from my friend Megan's Facebook account. I guess it's fortunate because y'all get to see me actually in a picture instead of behind the camera. Here we are after making Gingerbread houses at my Mom's before Christmas.

Stop the madness!

Here I am all dressed up to do my daily tasks!! HE!HE! Just kidding! I don't usually wear heels to cook!

Yes, I do realize that I haven't posted in a whole month now! I have been so extremely busy and blogging wasn't exactly at the top of my list. I actually did sit down tonight with the full intention of posting lots of great pictures, but the usb plug that fits my camera is mysteriously missing! No one knows where it has gone! Maybe it grew legs and walked away from my computer desk...I guess it's possible! Here is a list of just a few things that we have been up to:
1. My finals-one 7 page research paper, one project board for the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce board room, two 3-D drawings- a studio apartment and a conference room.
2. Christmas shopping
3. Magical night of lights at Lake Lanier
4. Two gingerbread houses
5. Christmas Shopping
6. Parties at school
7. Casey's braces coming off
8. Homemade caramels
9.Christmas Shopping
10. A fun day at my Grandma's with my Dad's side of the family
...and much, much more!

Maybe I'll find that cord sometime over the Christmas break and get some pics up!
Merry Christmas to all! May you get everything on your wish list!!

Falcons and Grizzlies

I think this might be the last football post for a while. :) Jess's team had the chance to play ball in the Georgia Dome after the Atlanta Falcons game last week. It was so much fun! Unfortunately the Falcons didn't win but it was a good game, close score throughout. Jacob loved the mascot and wanted me to take pictures of him doing all sorts of crazy things like riding a 4-wheeler while sitting on it backwards. He was quite entertaining! During the 3rd quarter the Falcons rep came and got our boys so that they could get suited up for their game. When the big boys were done, the Jr. Grizzlies took the field! They also played a good game. What a cool experience to play SUNDAY football in such a big place!

They had security standing at all entrances to the field for most of Jess's game, but near the end they disappeared. I quietly urged Casey and Jacob to run down the stairs, rub the turf, and then run back. After a little hesitation, they did it. We were SO close, it would have been a shame for them not to take the opportunity to do something they will probably never get to do again!! All you football fans know what I mean! It was a big deal!

The Fans...

Waiting on the sidelines, Jess is #6...

Papa and Jaja...

After the game...

The guys...

Blogthings - You Are 9: The Peacemaker

My Aunt Sara (who is only about a year older than me) had blogged her results of this quiz. I think they pretty much pegged me!

Blogthings - You Are 9: The Peacemaker: "What Number Are You?
You Are 9: The Peacemaker

You are emotionally stable and willing to find common ground with others.
Your friends and family often look to you to be the mediator when there is conflict.

You are easy going and accepting. You take things as they come.
Avoiding conflict at all costs, you're content when things are calm.

At Your Best: You feel connected, trusting, and fulfilled. You feel at peace with your place in the world.

At Your Worst: You compromise your values to make sure peace is maintained. You give in to bullies.

Your Fixation: Harmony

Your Primary Fear: Causing conflict

Your Primary Desire: To preserve things as they are

Other Number 9's: Marge Simpson, Ronald Reagan, Audrey Hepburn, Jerry Seinfeld, and Abraham Lincoln."

Fine! I'll move on! LOL!!

One of my "Blogger" friends said today that she checked my blog last night only to find "NKOTB Forever" as my latest post. I really meant what I said-FOREVER!! J.K. I guess I'll move on from my fantasy boy band world. I'll do it, but I don't like it :(

NKOTB Forever!!!

When I think back on my preteen years, the first thing that comes to mind is the obsession I had with New Kids On The Block. I had the walls of my room covered with NKOTB posters, I had all the cassette tapes, I even had my picture taken with the cardboard cutout of Joey Joe which my mom had blown up to poster size for Christmas one year. My neighbor Tracey had the same obsession. We would make up dances to the songs and run back and forth between houses showing anyone who would watch us dance to "Step by Step" or "The Right Stuff". Those were the days!! I never had the chance to go see them in concert but I didn't really mind. I had enough paraphernalia (I did spellcheck this one) to keep me happy.
But....when New Kids announced their reunion back in the spring I knew that as soon as tickets to the Atl concert went on sale I would have one of those suckers! Two of my best friends from middle/high school agreed to go also and we started counting down the days on June 6. We had floor seats and weren't sure if we would get to see much because all 3 of us are "vertically challenged" as Melanie puts it. We got lucky! They had a round piano stage set up at the end of our row which was only 14 seats long so we got to be pretty close up. They played a few songs there in the middle of the show and it was AWESOME!! When they started heading back to the big stage, they ran around the behind our section and right by our seats which were on the aisle. My friends reached out and touched Donnie and Joey, but I ( being the scrapbooker of the group) just blinded Joe with my flash! I figured the close up pic would last longer than the NKOTB germs so I tried not to hate myself. I had the best time and was tempted to head down to Tampa for the show today but I don't think my family would appreciate me becoming a groupie...oh, well. Thanks Melanie and Alicia!!

Alicia, me, and Mel

Joey Joe up close...He was my fav back in the day!

Donnie (Alicia's fav) and Jordan(Mel's fav)

Blinded by MY flash...

The guys...

HALLOWEEN '08

What new thoughts can one have on "Halloween"? We got all dressed up (the boys refused to wear the costumes I had to hunt for on EBAY), my family came over, we ate chili, we trick or treated (casey got upset and went home after about 15 houses), we overdosed on sugar, and then we passed out. Yeah, pretty much the typical Halloween at our house this year!

Jacob as a UGA player and his friend Kaylyn as Raggedy Ann.
He was going to be Darth Vader but was too embarrased to wear it!

My little bro Aaron as Johnny Appleseed...

Jess as a scary clown. He had a really cool Willy Wonka costume but he was too embarrassed also.

These are the costumes I made for Casey and her friend Shelby-Cookie Monster and Elmo

Me and my sisters and future sister-in-law (no pressure Adam...heehee!)

Jack-o-Lantern Fun

I typically LOVE all things Halloween but carving the pumpkin has always been a dreaded event at our house. Everyone thinks we are supposed to do this but they get bored or grossed out before we can finish the job. I wasn't going to do it this year but tradition won out. Although Mike was working and Jess was on the couch watching TV, I wasn't alone. Casey and Jacob stuck it out till the end. They even got ALL the guts out and separated the seeds so we could toast them. (I had never toasted pumpkin seeds but they turned out awesome.)

I had to capture this moment of peace, they were so happy working together!

The finished product...

Mr. Jack...

Gooey Eyeball

On October 19th my kids participated in the Primary Program at our church. All of the children did wonderfully and the Spirit was so strong during the meeting. HOWEVER, after church Casey and Jacob were showing me these great goody bags that they received for doing such a good job and pulled out some really cool gooey eyeballs. Casey then decided to walk into the living room giving her gooey eye a little toss upward on the way. It immedietly stuck to our wonderful FLAT paint. We got out the Swiffer stick to try to get it down but it just smeared into this nasty red blob. I had to get out the ladder to peel it from the wall revealing a nice big grease spot, which I will now have to go and buy paint to cover up. (I stopped by the paint store yesterday and they have changed their colors since mine was purchased so I have to bring them the bucket that my builder left for me that is all dried up and crusty.) Why is everything such a huge deal?!


I considered leaving this for Halloween but since I was borrowing a 12' ladder (to take care of the wiffle ball that was melted in my light fixture-that's another great story)I figured I'd get it down while I could.

Here is the full view from the front door...nice, huh?

Yahoo Farm

On Saturday our neighbors invited us to go with them to Yahoo Farm in Jasper. We had tons of fun on the haunted hay ride. Our mission while on the ride was to get the head from "Two head Betty". I personally had no interest in reaching out of the trailor to grab a severed head from some crazy lady. One of the little boys on the ride did and he got a free popcorn for turning in his loot. After the hay ride, we did the corn maze in the dark. They gave us tiny, cheapo flashlights that were pretty useless so we went in a few circles before finding our way out. Michael thought it would be funny to take off and scare the older kids, so every few seconds we would hear shrieking coming out of the corn. We weren't supposed to cut through the corn stalks so I'm sure Michael owes Mr. Farmer a $50 fine for breaking the rules. (SHHH...don't tell)
I was thinking about how this trip to the pumpkin farm was so much different than past trips when the kids were younger. They are growing way too fast. They are going to have to stop that!
Anyway, we had a really fun time and I look forward to having many more "big kid" adventures!

Jess and our neighbor Tiffany

The boy who got the head...

Us...

This is the only "pumpkin" shot the kids would let me take...

Jacob, Tiffany, Jess, And Casey...

My latest craft project...

My friend called me a few weeks ago and said that her neighbor had made this pumpkin topiary after she had seen one at Michael's for nearly $200. After hitting 5 different stores, April and I were able to get all the supplies to make them for around $45 each. I was pretty excited about that. We used craft pumpkins which we drilled holes into and then stacked on a dowel rod. Inside the urns is a block of craft foam to hold it up straight (mostly). The urns we bought at Garden Ridge for $7.99. They were an ugly grey color but with a little Krylon spray paint they became a lovely shade of chocolate. I even dry brushed some gold craft paint to add dimension. The leaves on the bottom 2 sections are actually part of a grapevine type garland which we just wrapped around the pumpkins after they were stacked. Under the smallest pumpkin we stuck a little moss in the space and added some leaves that were cut from the garland. I'm not real sure if I like the bow on top, but I didn't know what else to put there. (any suggestions are welcome) After it was all put together, I wrapped some orange lights in with the leaves.




This pic isn't that great, but you get the idea...

HIS FIRST WIN: 20-14

First let me thank my dear friend Renee for having her camera ready to document this wonderous event. I had left my camera at home not thinking that I would need it. Maybe I should have done that a long time ago. Anyway, on to the big news...

Jess has been playing football for 3 seasons now. His team had never won a game until Saturday! Mike has been teasing the boys that their record was 0-20whatever. But he can't say that anymore. They have worked so hard and put up with some really crazy coaching but it finally paid off. I don't think I have ever screamed so loudly in my life as I did at the end of that game. They were actually tied at the end of the 4th quarter but they pulled it off in triple overtime. Talk about an adrenaline rush! I am so proud of these boys, they sooo deserved this!! (Just in case anyone is wondering it was the Cherokee Warriors that they were playing.)

TAGGED, BUT DIFFERENT

O.K. so this is my first tagging experience and I'm not sure if I like it. Thanks, Renee :P

1. I don't feel comfortable at all talking about my self.

2. I like getting all dressed up for Halloween just like the kids. I'm going as an 80s punk Rocker this year-complete with leg warmers, jelly bracelets, and a side ponytail.

3.I don't share my food or drink with ANYONE. It creeps me out and pisses me off if someone assumes I want to share, even my own kids. (Anyone remember the "Friends" episode where Joey freaks out when his date eats off of his plate? Totally me!)

Joey yelling, "JOEY DOESN' T SHARE FOOD!"

4. While on the subject of food, I loooooove dark chocolate! The darker the better. OOH...and add some raspberry flavor!!

5. I enjoy planning parties. I think I must have been a party planner in another life.

6. I, like my friend Renee, also used to play flute and piano. I hate to admit that I haven't played the flute in many years. Sometimes I sit at my piano and try to play a few of my memorized songs, but it doesn't sound as good as it used to.

7. I've saved the best random fact about me for last:

I'm going to see the New Kids On The Block in concert with 2 girlfriends from high school at the end of October! AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! I can't wait!!



I tag Debi, Angie, Melanie, April, Abigail, Suzan, and Kristen!

Jacob's Carnival Party

My baby turned 8 yesterday! I can't believe it. Time is flying by so fast! I decided to do a blow out this year since it may be his last "kiddie" b-day party. They seem to want more $cash$ than they do parties the older they get! We had a blast, it turned out to be a really fun time and the kids all seemed to enjoy it.
First the kids entered through our gate and went to a ticket booth to get tickets and a goody bag which they decorated with markers and wrote their name on.




Then they used their tickets for games where they won prizes to fill the goody bags. There was also face painting that was purchased with tickets.



Carrie and Megan were painting hearts on the cheeks of the ladies who agreed to it . They would put the initial of that persons MAN inside the heart.

We had a concession stand where food items could be purchased with tickets. There was cotton candy, popcorn, sno cones, hot dogs, and drinks. I had rented the machines from a local party store. They were a huge hit. The cotton candy machine decided to quit on us just a short time into the party. We were all really bummed about that. I figured that I at least got some good pics for my blog and scrapbook so the fact that there was a shortage of sugar for the kids to consume wasn't that terrible.


Casey...

Maggie the Sno Cone Queen ...I copied this caption from Megan's face book album ;)



And as if that wasn't enough sugar, I made cupcakes to look like mini popcorn bags. I got the liners from a company that I found on Ebay. I made white cupcakes with white icing, then I took mini marshmallows that were cut in half and colored with food coloring and put them on top of the cupcake. Some of the kids didn't want to eat them because they thought it really was popcorn on top!!

Jacob blowing out his candles...

Finally, we ended the night with lots of great gifts from all of Jacob's awesome friends!

I guess this will have to be the last of the big parties because this was A LOT of work and I am not sure I want to try to top this one! I do want to say thanks to all of my totally awesome family and friends who helped me make this party a success! I also want to thank my producer, my record label , my fans......OOPS! I think I started day dreaming!! J.K.!!