LL my neice!

isn't she beautiful?

She is the one going to Ole Miss in the Fall

Clothes, Clothes, Everywhere!

Why is it I have nothing to wear but SOOO many clothes that my closet looks like it threw up?

I read about a great idea to part with clothes that you haven't worn in 6 months

The rule is to hang your clothes with the hangers facing the wrong way. After you wear an item, hang it up the right way. After 6 months, whatever is still hanging the wrong direction, get rid of it! Sound good to me. I'm going to try it.

TIP: It will help you out when you can't quite remember: Did I wear that top just last week?

THEN... I think we should have a clothes swap! We could all meet and trade out clothes. Just because I don't wear it, doesn't mean you won't! ( I think this stems from me loving to borrow clothes in high school)

Maybe I blocked it out but I don't remember going "back and forth" with my friends in 2nd grade...so surley not in kindergarten...

KE told me today that the boys said something kind of funny but also not good and "they didn't even get in trouble!" ( with her eyes wide open)

"Boys go to college to get more knowledge
Girls go to Jupiter to get more ________ " ( can you guess it?)

(You see, stupid is a bad word in our house)

Then she looks to me to say something.........

hmmmmmmm

I told her the next time they say that to be sure and let those boys know there is no such word as stupider.


W asks me now, Can I have my papi? (knowing it's strictly for bedtime) with this cheesy grin on his sweet face. I DREAD the day and nights of no more papi. Don't ask me if I let him have it.

N is still almost walking. I think he can just crawl so much faster...why waste so much time? T tells people that he is in his drunken stupor days....or something like that.

He can say: Mama, Dada, Juice, Cracker, Sissy, Wade, Night-Night, Dora (ha!), Papaw, Mimi, Book, More, Ball, Jesse ( esse), Lindsay (insey), LaLa, oh and his favorite...EAT! Not too bad for 16 months. Oh and he sings the tune to Veggie Tales If- you- like- to- talk- to -tomatoes........ His version.. Eh-Ooh-I-Ooh-Ahh.....so sweet

After seeing Torrey off, I cooked supper and I gave the kids thier bath. The boys are on antibiotics for sinus infections. Nathan was especially fussy tonight. He never has a problem going to bed. Of course tonight he screamed bloody murder all 4 times I tried putting him down. The last time I said to myself.. okay, I will give him 15 minutes.... about 7 minutes later...BLUAH

Yep, he cried so hard he threw up. Soooo, I put him in my bed and after 20 minutes of flopping, he finally gave it up.. Oh I hope this is just because he is sick and not because he wants to upgrade to a King!

oh and by the way. when nathan was crying, W was telling him that it was okay. Don't cry N! (Oh they are going to be so close)

H is for....

Hostess Powdered Donettes

dangerous

Seeing Spots!

I'm done! This was actually therapy for me. I forget how much I love to do stuff like this but just don't have the time. KE loves it! The design of her bedroom was inspired by an episode of Divine Design... one of my favorite shows.

My Latest Project

This is a dresser I had as a little girl. I also used it as a bachelorette and did this fabulous faux finish.

KE is now the proud owner and she wants it PINK! I will post after pics as soon as it dries and I get it back into her bedroom.

Self Confessed Blog Stalker

Some people's days aren't complete unless they have their coffee, some unless they exercise ( yeah.. that's me!) or some unless they vacuum 3 times. Well, I have become a blog-stalker.
My computer is turned on at dawn and isn't shut down until the wee hours. ( No, I'm not on it the entire time, even though Torrey would say otherwise) Do any of you have this "problem?"

Personally, I don't see it as a problem... I see it as an outlet. I even reward my self with the computer instead of chocolate (That's how much I love it) after I have completed a daily chore. I love to read others' posts to find out the latest products, words of wisdom and other facts. I'm really admiring those that have witty names too! I want a cute and witty name for my blog! As much as I'm on the computer, my hubby might label me slacker mama (NOT) but that one is taken.

I've thought of a few but I'm still not so sure. I wouldn't want to sound conceited. Those of you that know me ( and those that may not) any suggestions? I know you read because I have hundreds of hits a week! ( installed that nifty counter at the bottom of my page this past Sunday) That is alot to little ole me........

I have been posting like a mad woman ever since I discovered that you can make your blog into a book. This has officially replaced Creative Memories for me.. seeing as I haven't done an album in 2 years. I have also realized that we hardly ever take grown-up pics so that is going to change as well.

Happy Blogging!

My Sweet Boys

Pics from the weekend in Starkville

W and his buddy at the festival. J.R. is thinking "What's that all about W?"

We waited for 30 mintues for this beautiful face!!!

Talent!

One of my bestest friends paints on the side...

On the side of massage therapy.

She just sent me her latest project and I must share it with you all. I'm very proud of her! She just (I'm talking yesterday) lost her mammaw to cancer and even though I know she will be okay, (stronger I pray) my heart aches for her and her family.

She lives in Winston-Salem, NC but if any of you would like to order from her, she can easily ship!! You can reach her at rhondacordell@hotmail.com

Here are some of my personal favorites:

G is for Grace.......

God's

Riches

At

Christ's

Expense

Sign by Rustic Creations

Definition: Grace is God's unmerited favor. It is kindness from God we don't deserve. There is nothing we have done, nor we can ever do to earn this favor. It is a gift from God. Grace is divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration (rebirth) or sanctification; a virtue coming from God; a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine favor. Amen to that!

N is Almost Walking!!!

Here N is walking while being captivated by Dora on t.v.

Friday I got to have lunch with an old friend from high school. She chose the infamous Pasquale's and there were no objections from me! As early teenagers, Pasquale's was THE place to eat before the movie started next door. Back then they had a juke box where the latest songs played ( Milli Vanilli anyone?) The juke box is gone and there is a new owner but the food is as good as it ever was! The Cinema closed several years ago and as I was leaving Pasquale's, I noticed it has been converted into a church where our local meteorologist and her husband teach. Neat!

Saturday the entire family went to Starkville to visit our friends Tripp and Cat. They moved there a few months ago. I LOVE that town . I have never thought of Starkville as anything other than a college town. Saturday we went to an arts festival on Main street. We ran into The Brysons who we go to church with. Cat is the only one who had a camera so I will post pics from the weekend asap. Our sweet hubby's kept all 5 kids Saturday night so the us girls could have some down time. We decided to go to Old Venice. I highly recommend the TIRAMASU!!!!!! Delish.

Sunday morning the guys went turkey hunting while we cooked breakfast for the kids and got them dressed for church. We got to visit First Presbyterian Church where the pastor once preached at our church. The sanctuary is beautiful. One of our youth (young adults) that attends MSU was there! Katie Evelyn and Wade ran up to her. We all took her to lunch and I hope that she wasn't too overwhelmed with 5 kids everywhere!! I really think it made her feel at home.

On the way out we stopped at Coldstone and I can say that we will make that a tradition. I love good ice cream. I had the coffee with caramel and brownie. Wade had the blue ( cotton candy) and KE had cake batter with M&Ms. N of course ate a bite of everyones.

Back to the grind of household chores and I'm so blessed that I'm not really minding 8 loads of laundry!

F is for Family.....

E is for Energy

My kids have plenty of it!! Here are a few pics of playtime.....

Giddy Up!

I bet you are wondering about this one

After dance the girls get together and play like rock stars

I'm on a Blog Roll................

T has been in Texas the past 4 days on one of his well-deserved ( even though I loathe him leaving) hunting trips. He should be home within the hour. I have almost caught up on laundry so I feel good about sitting here wasting time blog-stalking and now blogging.... again.

THE OTHER DAY

I asked KE to clean her room. This is always an ordeal. After moaning and groaning about it and me telling her several times, she finally says to me "Cleaning ruins my life"

Hello?

I think of the best possible response at the moment and told her that she needed to stop and think about what she just said because she has a wonderful life. We all have jobs and this was one of hers.. I also pointed out that she was being very ungrateful.

After a few minutes of silence, in which I thought she was picking up, she came to me with a picture she drew. On one side it had a girl with a clean room and the other side, she drew a girl with a messy room. She had circled the girl with the clean room and said to me....

" Mama, I realized that I was being ungrateful and I'm sorry"

It's moments like this that confirm I'm doing what is right by her.


TODAY....

The kids and I were eating supper, KE proceeds to tell me that 2 boys at school, on the playground were tugging her arm hard and "using thier imagination on her" (chuckle) pretending to put her in jail. I told her next time to tell them to let go or you will have to tell the teacher.

Then precious W cuts in by leaning into KE very slow , looks her in the eye and says,
"KE, Listen to me." "Tell your friends to stop it." (then goes back to eating like he didn't just speak to her like a 20 year old)

If I only had a camera!!!!! It was priceless. He is only 2!!! Kids amaze me how smart they are.


All the while N is minding his own business eating grilled chicken like there's no tomorrow.

Bragging Rights (somewhat)

I must brag on my two beautiful and intelligent neices. One is a junior and one is a senior about to graduate. ( Bless thier mama's heart...right?)

Oh, and there's one more... He's 14

They had prom this past weekend. There are some beautiful girls in Meridian!

Our junior is the one laughing on the far left. I chose to post this pic because this is so her. She reminds me of myself at that age ( and sometimes now) with her laughter, pickyness and directness. If she has something to say, you will more than likley hear it! :)

She may be hard to see but our senior is 3rd from the right. She will be attending Ole Miss (pharmacy school) in the fall. I know her and her friends are soaking up the rest of thier senior year! Seems like yesterday for myself.

I'am so proud to call these girls my neices and they already play an important role in my children's lives. They ( and my nephew who is 14) are wonderful examples of responsible teens. They take thier time out to play and look after my children when asked. KE wears them out with pretend play!

I cleaned out a junk drawer and found this old pic of me and T from Kristina and Hamp's wedding... so what year was this Kristina?

A Good Laugh

Thinking of having kids? Do this 11 step program first!

Lesson 1
1. Go to the grocery store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home.
4. Pick up the paper.
5. Read it for the last time.

Lesson 2
Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...
1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding,sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.

Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

Lesson 3
A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...

1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the livingroom from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12pounds, with a radio turned to static
(or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)
2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.
3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.
4. Set the alarm for 3AM.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.
6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.
7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.
9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.

Lesson 4
Can you stand the mess children make? To find out...

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed then rub them on the clean walls.
5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.
6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

Lesson 5
Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.

1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hangout.Time allowed for this - all morning.

Lesson 6

Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.
2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.
3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Lesson 7
Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you canfind to a pre-school child.
(A full-grown goat is an excellent choice).
If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Lesson 8

1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air. You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.

Lesson 9
Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Dora and Disney. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, theDisney channel, Sprout or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.

Lesson 10

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required).
Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years.
You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Lesson 11
Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversationwith an adult while there is a child in the room.

To Know God is to Truly Live

Those of you that know me, know that I have encountered God in a way like never before. I have shared bits and pieces with alot of you.
Latley I have been on a "mission" of sorts prompted by a person's comments one day.
Has anyone in your life ever said anything to you that made you question your faith? What did you do with that? Most of us may tell another person about the episode and then just let it go. But sometimes you just can't. I think that God will put things before you to help take that veil from your eyes.

2 Corinthians 3:16But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ( I recommend you read this in context for yourself)

When this happens..

Buckle up!

I can't begin to explain to you the many little hints of grace God has blessed me with throughout this recent journey . At the time I didn't realize what it was.

Torrey and I were in the car when a familiar christian song came on the radio. Even through the business of talking back and forth to the kids, adjusting the temp, talking to Torrey, the words struck me and when I got home I had to find this song. I LOVE the internet! :)

Project Playlist doesn't have this song but I found the lyrics. If any song defines this time in my walk with the Lord...this is it!

If you know me at all, you know how much I love music. Music remembers times in your life so well. There's nothing like pulling out that mix of songs from high school or college.

okay okay... here are the lyrics

Nichole Nordeman: To Know You

It's well past midnight And I'm awake with questions that won't Wait for daylight
Separating fact from my imaginary fiction On this shelf of my conviction
I need to find a place Where You and I come face to face

Thomas needed Proof that You had really risen
Undefeated When he placed his fingers Where the nails once broke Your skin
Did his faith finally begin? I've lied if I've denied The common ground I've shared with him

And I, I really want to know You
I want to make each day A different way that I can show You
how I really want to love You
Be patient with my doubt I'm just tryin' to figure out Your will
And I really want to know You still

Nicodemus Could not understand how You could
Truly free us He struggled with the image Of a grown man born again
We might have been good friends
Cuz sometimes I still question, too How easily we come to You

No more campin' on the porch of indecision
No more sleepin' under stars of apathy
And it might be easier to dream
But dreamin's not for me

Girls Just want to Have fun

The new trend for girls' birthday parties has something to do with either Hannah Montana, rock stars or beauty queens.... I wanted to share pics of KE at a rock star party at a local beauty salon. The girls had thier hair and make up done. They had a blast. As much fun as it is, I teach KE that inner beauty is most important, It can make us beautiful or ugly. How many times have you met someone who is great looking but had the worst personality? Or who wasn't all that great looking but had a heart of gold? As the saying goes... Beauty is only skin deep.

Proverbs 31:30Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

D is for.....

DANCE!!

When I was little my mom put me in gymnastics. I freaked. Needless to say, she never attempted to put me in anything else. I tried out for Jr High cheerleader and made it! I was pumped. I decided in high school that I wanted to be on dance team. I was a dancer in college. Then of course I love to go out dancing with my hubby and friends. KE has taken an interest in dance the past 3 years. She is not shy like I was!

Can you find me?

C is for.................

Crews and Chocolate. I could not pick just one for this one.

Again. One of my "sisters" had her 2nd boy 4 months ago and today she came home with him! I'm in love. (Doesn't he look like one of mine?)

My best friend is Leah who now lives in West Virginia patiently waiting for her hubby to complete his medical residency.

Then there is chocolate................... These are my 3 top picks

B is for............

BABIES!!!! As you can see from my life I lOVE babies. I think I would like to have one more.

(top to bottom: KE, W and N)

Maybe.....

Then I think about sleepless nights.....formula..... diapers......

WE have people all the time telling us the 4th one goes to private school FREE. Maybe that is my answer. LOL

I have decided to participate in the "ABC blog game" Let's see if I can meet the challenge of representing every letter of the alphabet. I will shoot to show things that are dear to my heart.

A is for......

Alexander!!! My dear friend Rhonda had a new baby boy just weeks ago. She has a little girl that is 3. She moved to North Carolina about 7 years ago with the promise she would be back. Well, she is still there, married with 2 beautiful children! I miss her dearly and hope that one day we will live closer. She is like a sister to me.

Have you ever noticed?

Have you ever noticed that most of the women anchors and guests on Fox News are blondes??

How about that?

TAG

I have been tagged with a “who are you?” game. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people, posts their names, and then leaves a comment on their blogs, letting them know they've been tagged.


What was I doing 10 years ago? I was single and working for a local opthalmologist, living with my girlfriend Beverly. I was living it up going out all the time ( Kristina and I were totally different people then)

Five things on my to-do list today:

1. Get caught up on bills
2. Fill out WS application for KE
3. Do laundry
4. Take KE to Dr. Boldon ( I think she may have strep)
5. Meeting at church tonight

Five snacks i enjoy

1. cheese-its
2. cup of coffee with french vanilla creamer and a pkg of sugar in the raw
3. a rice cake topped with natural peanut butter and a few milk choc chips ( nuked in the micro)
4. carrots and ranch dip ( homemade Hidden Valley that is)
5. anything chocolate I have around

Five things i would do if i were a billionaire

1. Give Give Give
2. Pay off all debt
3. Invest
4. Purchase a second home or two ( hunting cabin and beach house)
5. travel


Five bad habits

1. Biting my nails
2. Letting the laundry pile up
3. going to Libby's to see the latest duds
4. drinking coffee ( i started drinking it only a few months ago and I must have a cup at least once a day)
5. wasting food ( you know, you thaw chicken out only to go out that night, and the next, and the next before you know it that chicken is bad)

Five places i have lived ( I have only lived in 2 towns)

1. Waxhaw Drive ( where I grew up)
2. girls dorm
3. Woodlawn Apts.
4. Gerald St
5. Sycamore St

Five jobs i've had

1. Sales assoc. at Stein Mart ( when it was downtown)
2. Nanny
3. Switchboard operator
4. Opthalmic assistant
5. Domestic Goddess (best job in the world!)


I want to know more about (a nice way of saying TAG)

1. Kristina Gaston
2. Amy Harmon
3. Amelia Crosswhite
4. Angie Stallings
5. Sarah Sabbatini

Okay, I painted the kitchen about 2 weeks ago and I still don't like it. My friend painted her dining room this color and it's not the same. I love hers. I see alot of blue undertones and the picture probably doesn't do it justice. It's not terrible, but I was shooting for a more livley green