Beauty Queen of only 16...

Dress~$70.00

Snowball Dance ticket~$5.00

Seeing my little girl looking SPECTACULARLY STUNNING~~~

Priceless

I don't wanna be at work right now

But, here I sit. Behind my desk. At work.
It's not bad here,nope,not at all even. I actually like my job. It's just that, well...there are a few other things I'd rather be doing.

Bungee Jumping. Hey, I've done it once before. Since I lived, I'd like to do it again.

Making my own Root Beer. My totally awesome friend Amy brought me some A&W today and so help me they have the best rootbeer! I've got to find/steal that recipe!!

Manicure. My nails look decent but oh my it would feel fantastic to have my hands softened, preened and massaged.

Licking the bowl. I pretty much don't care what's in said bowl. It's usually always something yummy and more than likely chocolate.

Take a hike. Literally. Camp Horizon is calling my name...shhh, can you hear it too?

I'm realizing this list could go on and on my friends so I'll just stop for now.

But tell me this....What would YOU rather be doing? Because in addition to the above, I'd rather be reading my friends blogs than being at work ;)

I just wanted some milk

So I'm in my friendly neighborhood Braums yesterday after work picking up some essentials, milk (Braums IS the best) a loaf of bread and some cookies. For those of you not from this area Braums is a burger/ice cream type place that also has a small yet very fitting grocery section. I can run in there and get everything from bread and milk to fruits, veges and chips and chicken! Love it.

Anyhow, like I was saying, I'm in Braums yesterday and I notice this woman struggling to open the door as she is holding a purse that can only be carried if you're of linebacker size. This thing is HUGE. Not just big, I'm talking GI~NOR~MOUS. And it's not even cute. But I digress...not only is she carrying this "purse" she is talking (yelling) on her cell and juggling her keys. Now let me paint you a picture. This is not just a run of the mill key chain, no ma'am. It's the Rolls Royce of key rings. It's got bells and whistles, literally. It's got to weigh 4-5 pounds and I can only think to myself that's got to be hell on her ignition although I'm not sure why I'm thinking that. Probably some urban legend thing I may have heard growing up or something an old boyfriend told me about my key ring when I was 16 so I would take off 1-2 pounds of my keyring. Sooo, I go open the door for her.

I'm nice like that.

As I open the door I say, "Looks like you have your hands full." This "lady" says to me, "Your point?" And continues to talk unnecessarily loud on her cell phone. (tilt your head, furrow your brow and say WHAT..here) I just turned and walked away in disbelief at her rudeness. Geez, I was just trying to be nice. Not thirty seconds later I swear... she drops the keys. And of course everyone in the store hears this happen cause like I said, it's heavy and full of dangly crap. But not only is that the sound we hear, it is followed by a very shrill overflow of expletives streaming out of her overly sparkled glossed mouth. Hello?! Children and lil old ladies are in here!! But since I'm the closet to her and I do it without thinking, I bend over and heave her keys off the floor and as I'm handing them to her she JERKS them out of my hands. But wait!! There are so many doodads, whatnots, thingybobs and dooma~flachies on the thing my pinky is caught and she damn near rips it off! YOUCH!! I look at her in a pained/pissy kinda way (what, you didn't think I was going to let that slide completly did you?) and she says in a way that can only be described as BITCHY, "These are mine." I'll just let you simmer on that one for a second. I had to as well, plus I had to make sure my poor pretty little pinky finger was ok. It's my favorite digit.

Onlookers. Yep, it's a small town people and an even smaller area we're in so they are everywhere. A few of them just kind of shuffle along muttering under their breath cause they have no doubt seen and heard everything that has transpired in the last minute and a half, and hopefully just as surprised as I. There's a little man, and by little I mean just an inch or so taller than me little that notices that I'm looking like a deer in the headlights staring at Bertha then my pinky, then back at Bertha (that's what I've named her by the way) and cracks a smile and says, "Her husband has gotta be miserable." I feel better.

I get in the short line with my goodies and I can still feel my heart beating in my poor lil digit. I'm trying not to look at her. I'm fully irritated and am willing myself not to accidently on purpose knock her eggs out of her hands, when of course...Bertha steps in line right behind me. Great. She's still on the phone, still jangling (Jangling is a word, look it up in the Tonya~ism Dictionary along with Dooma~flachies) her key thing, still lugging around "Gertrude" the purse. If Gertrude was a color, it would be the color of this purse. I continue in line just looking off into nothing just begging for it to be my turn so I can get the hell outta there. Finally, I pay for my items, grab my stuff and head toward the door. The last thing I hear as the door behind me starts to close is....

Wait for it...

"Where the F@!K is my wallet?!?!"

Have a nice day :)

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

One of those nights...

I should be in bed sleeping. I was dog tired 3 hours ago and here it is almost midnight and I'm fiddling around on this and so NOT sleeping. My brain is ON and my body is by all means (seriously) OFF.
So what I want to know is...What keeps you up at night? What thoughts run through your mind like lumbering trains that never seem to end? Is it kids? Work? Or something even more interesting like, "I should really shave my legs. That new fabric softner really doesn't hold it's scent. I think I'll make Turkey burgers for dinner next Thursday. Wow, I can't believe I had that pen mark on my nose all day and not a soul told me. How did I get pen on my nose? And the list goes on and on and on....
Let it out! Tell me I'm not the only one that is kept from beautiful, peaceful and much needed sleep.

Now I lay me down to sleep.

There's this boy...

And he has my heart.

Wordless Wednesday

A lil bit more 'bout me...

Ten things I wish I could say to 10 different people.

1. I forgive you. That doesn’t mean I like you.
2. Why me?

3. I wish you would stand up for yourself.

4. I know I’m a better mom than you were.

5. I’ve givin up looking for you.

6. I’ve never felt more loved!

7. You taught me how to be happy with myself.

8. You underestimated me.

9. I’m more thankful than you can imagine!

10. You were right.

Nine random things:

1. I experience deja vu a lot. It’s kinda creepy.
2. I sleep waay to hard.

3. I have a theory, I MUST HAVE been adopted :)
4. Maybe I should not worry so much.

5. Cooking for my friends and family is like therapy to me.

6. I sleep walk.7. I’m out of shape.

8. I have a scar and I have no idea how I got it.

9. I wonder if people talk down to me cause I’m short or I’m short so they talk down to me.

Eight ways to win my heart:

1. Crack me up.

2. Play with my hair.
3. Keep your promises.

4. Random acts of selflessness.

5. Talk to me.

6. Write me a letter.

7. Protect me.

8. Love me as much as I love you.

Seven things I've been thinking about:

1. Laundry...silly but true.

2. Chesney’s growing up so fast.

3. I wish Dallas lived with us all the time.

4. Lately, avacados.
5. Bills.

6. I need a new hobby.

7. Going for a drive.

Six things I wish I never had to do:

1. Clean the toilet.

2. Work for anyone else but myself.

3. Trap mice.

4. Worry about anything out of my control.

5. Ever see a clown again. Ever.

6. See my kids hurt or cry.

Five turn offs:

1. Back hair.

2. Ignorance.

3. Chauvanism.

4. Rudeness.

5. Someone who can’t laugh at themselves.

Four turn ons:

1. Challenge me.

2. Say/do those things that make me blush.
3. Working man hands.

4. Talk to me in a "tone"

Three wishes for my future:

1. Have my kids go to college and be successful and happy in whatever they choose to do.

2. Have lifetime passes to Bluegrass. (it doesn’t all have to be so serious ya know!)

3. Leave my mark, in just a small way.

Two things I want to do before I die:

1. Do something so spontaneous it makes people question my sanity.

2. Grow old with the people I love.

One possession I could not live without:

1. A cozy blanket. And all it has to offer.

Wordless Wednesday

For cryin' out loud

Anyone who REALLY knows me knows that I HATE crying. Period. Especially in front of anyone, it's utterly embarrassing for me. Not just a little but a whole lot. It's bigger than that even. But yes, sometimes I cry. And usually at the most inappropriate times. Since I so seldomly cry, if someone actually witnesses this oddity, they are befuddled. They don't know what to say or do or sometimes. Be assured you most likely had nothing to do with it, I rarely ever let someone "make" me cry.
Hell, I don't know what to do. Should I just let it all out or wipe away that burning hell off my cheek and move on like I never shed a tear? I cry for reasons known and unknown. I cry because I think, worry, need, care,and want, or I'm angry, happy, ecstatic, nervous, or rejuvenated. I cried last night. Why? All of the above. I cried and I didn't want to, it just pushed it's way right out. Why is it such a big deal for me to cry? People do it all the time. At a sad movie, a touching song, a fading memory. The birth of a child, a love lost or a love found. I don't really have a clue where the hell I'm going with this other than to just say, if you've seen me cry, it was real. I'm sorry if it made you uncomfortable, you mostly see me happy and "on". I cry... I'm overwhelmed... with a flood of emotion that I'm usually able to control and I just can't handle it like I would want to... it's found a way out. I just needed a release. And actually, if you are one of the very few that has seen me cry, you're lucky.... Because that means I love you.

I'm a list maker

This is what I LOVE about Autumn...

1. Candy Corn and salty peanuts...together. It's like a handful of Payday!

2. Layering my clothes like so...Cami, shirt, sweatshirt. So cozy.

3. Turning the air in my car OFF and rolling down the windows.

4. The leaves turning that gorgeous shade of burnt orange.

5. Wearing jeans and sweatshirts. I'll be honest. I own WAY more sweatshirts than is necessary for one person.

6. Hello, football season! (Not NFL...College and High School, please!)

7. The weather - crisp, cool mornings and highs in the 60s/70s.

8. Comfort foods like pot roast and stews. Side of fresh out of the oven cornbread. yum.

9. Tent camping. 'Nuff said.

Things I will not miss about the Summer...

1. The music on Top 40 radio. Jesse McCartney and Chris Brown can "Leave[in]" "Forever."

2. The sweat dripping down the middle of my back. (TMI?)

3. The end of the Baseball season. I'm so over the egos.

4. Seeing way too much skin on both sexes. Men should NOT wear cut off jean shorts.

5. Waiting for my 120 degree car to cool so I can breath while driving.

6. Is alfalfa season over yet? My allergies are killing me.

7. Shaving my legs. Every. Single. Day.

Now if Winter would just hold off, oh, permanently.

April 24, 2007

Another blast from blog past! Turns out this years party was even better! (How was that possible?!) And I'm still THE luckiest girl ever!!

April 24, 2007 - Tuesday
About last Saturday... Current mood: happy
Let me just start off by saying I'm THE luckiest girl ever!!
I have the most amazing group of friends and family. Well, My friends ARE my family! My 32nd would not have been the same without each and everyone of them.

The pics in my new slide show give you all a little glimpse into the nights festivities...there are some pics that WILL NOT EVER see the light of day! I'll just say I'm so happy you were all entertained!
I once thought that life after 30 would be boring, sad and not near as fun as my 20's. I was SOOOOOOOOO wrong!! While not taking anything away from the teens and 20's....I'm having a BLAST! I'm free of any inhibitors...I'm just me. I laugh louder and longer. I can make fun of myself and occasionally others! And I'm not hiding my laugh lines or the crow's feet that are slowly creeping in...I'm celebrating them!!
So, here's to 32!

You oughtta know...

I posted this blog a while back on myspace but I'm planning on moving all those (5 or 6) blogs here.



Some stuff about me:



1. Pepsi is my addiction. I should seek help.



2. I have to agree with my friend Laura...polish on my toes is a must.


3.Sugar Tits....is what my great granny gave me when I was sad to cheer me up. Still works.


4. I have a shoulder injury due to bowling at a State Bowling Tournament.


5. Phil Collins...wow. A drummer and a voice. Always gets me.


6. I wanted to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader when I was younger. I think it was something about those white hooker boots.


7. If Chesney starts laughing, I'm soon to follow even if I have no idea why she's laughing. Her laugh is contagious and spirit filling.


8. I'm a sleep walker.


9. I'm a damn fine parallel parker and backer upper.


10. I wonder how many people know what a sugar tit is?

Love.Plain and simple.

Having babies is easy. Being a PARENT is work. And I take my job very seriously. It's something I don't have to question, I don't need reassurance, I don't even need a pat on the back. I KNOW I'm a good mom. My children KNOW that I am there for them in all manners. They KNOW I am on their side, I will protect them, I will teach them, I will LOVE them. Here's where I'm trying to go with this. Ches and Miranda got grounded yesterday. I'm not going to say why, it's personal for them and I respect that they are embarrassed by it so I won't share the "why"... I was just about done with the "lecture" part of their punishment and told them this, "I am very proud of you both. You're both very kind, sweet, and loving girls and I love you both more everyday." Chesney says..."How could you?" "We (insert their actions here), how could you still be proud of us and love us so much?" To which I say, "My love can never be taken away. Even on the days when my patience is tried and I have been disappointed, the times when I'm so frustrated that I want to pull my hair out, I will love you forever. And then some." "I'm proud that you are embarrassed, it shows humility. I'm proud that you are sorry, it shows accountability." For a million reasons more I love my kids. A Mother's love for her children knows no bounds. It's stronger than steel. It's forever. It's UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

Now back to the babies being easy thing. I'm not saying that BABIES themselves are easy. That's a lot of work. A LOT. That is a difficult job. I've been there done that. I don't want it to seem like I'm saying the parents of babies don't have a clue what their in for. Quite the opposite. I'm just saying, looking back on the "baby days" ahhhh, sweet memories! Hold on tight to the moments that they look at you with sleepy eyes, the baby speak that only mom and dad understand, the soft smell of their skin...this list could go on forever. Time flies, hold tight and teach them, show them, give them all the love you can every moment that you can.

I'm such a sap today. Not sure if this post will make any sense or if it will just seem like I'm rambling. I just wanted to write this... something... down. Just something to say that being a parent is hard work. But it's the single most exhilerating, gratifying, heart racing, jump for joy thing I have ever or will ever do. And for whatever comes next, bring it on. I've got this whole being a mom thing down. I'm loving every minute of it. Unconditionally.

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?!?!

PSHYEAH!!! I am SOOO ready! September is one of my very fave months! Hello...Football season starts AND Bluegrass?! Does it get any better? Not to mention David's BDay is in September as well. And I LOVE Fall. Love.It. Don't know why. Don't care to figure it out. Just Love it.

Ches and Miranda are cheering again this year and Ches is Co~Captain of the squad so she's got a lot of responsibility but she can handle it! The girls are practicing very hard and are doing a great job. PLUS, they both play volleyball and have that practice as well. Dang. Busy all the time.

Dallas got off to his first day of school. *tear* It was sweet. He was so brave and just ready to go. David and I spent a couple of days there to be with him and see him off. And Lawrence is ALWAYS a dang good time. And for those of you who don't know...Mass St. is AWESOME and one day I will LIVE on that street. (So sayeth ME) Anyhow, all is well. Kids are great. Bluegrass is around the corner...3rd weekend of September for you non~knowers...Football and VB schrimage this Thursday at OHS...and Dallas comes home this weekend!!

Life is GOOD. oh...and more pics to come, it's late and I'm pooped!!

Pickle Juice Lake

Well, that's what it looks like from under the boat dock anyhow! We went to the little lake just east of our house for a day of swimming and relaxing and with us went...Ches, Dallas, Miranda, Madison, Grandma Janet and Papa Byron. There's a rope swing and a platform to have fun trying flips, cheer jumps and dives. Janet spent about 10 minutes or so on the platform building courage to jump off and I think her arms may still be sore from hanging on! Byron is fearless, and that's all I can say! The kids had a blast, the weather was GORGEOUS and my heart is full!!

Good news x2

It's been a busy week 'round these parts!! First off, I FINALLY got my way (hehe) and got a front loading washer and dryer!! Ya me! They are lovely and I'm looking all over for more laundry to do!! Sounds crazy I know but I seriously don't mind doing laundry and David likes (yes, LIKES!) folding clothes. The pic is from the web sight but you'd better believe I'll probably take a pic of mine (is that sad?) So that's good news ONE.

Good news TWO is that on the very morning that my washer and dryer were being delivered...I received a phone call. I almost didn't answer cause I thought it was a sales call! Anyways, it was a lovely lady that I had given my resume to in FEBRUARY of '07!!! She said I made a great impression and they had a position open and would love to talk to me again. (YEAH ME) Anyhow, I had been sort of looking around for a change. The whole 2nd shift and every other weekend thing was getting OLD. I was missing out on so many things and it honestly was not making me happy. My co~worker and friend Dakotah made it easier since we get along so well and she cracks me up, well, that and she brings me dinner!! But anyways, it was getting frustrating and so I jumped at the chance for an interview and a new opportunity. So just a few short hours after the phone call, I've had my interview, had a fabulously relaxing massage (see above mentioned friend Dakotah if you'd like one, too!) and VOILA....I have a new job!!! I'm going to be doing insurance billing for a medical supply business, 30-40 hours a week, NO WEEKENDS!! and oh ya...1st shift 9ish to 5ish!!

Wish me luck, I start training next week on my off days from the hospital, and for good on August 11.

Now you'll have to excuse me, I have some laundry to tend to!!!!

It's a Girl..

I have some very AWESOME news! Only a very small handful of people know this...and I feel now is as good a time as any to share...

Our family has grown!! Miranda is living with us now! She is one of Chesney's best friends and we could not be happier to have her be a part of our lil family! I won't go into details on here but if anyone wants to know a bit more, give me a call. I will let you all know this, she is safe, happy and very much loved here with us. She has been with us since June 26 and is getting quite comfy! The room that used to be the basement "living room/Ches' hangout" is now Miranda's room. My parent's gave us the bed they had in their spare bedroom, Sheila's mom had an extra dressser for her to use and we've been busy making curtains and putting in carpet and making it, well, her OWN. Her fave colors are green, black and white and her fave new thing in her room would probably be the bed sheets! They are bright green with little white alligators all over!

Miranda's such a sweetheart, so quiet and soft spoken. She expresses her feelings and thoughts thru writing and I encourage her to do that as often as she needs to. There have been a couple of late night tears that have flowed and we have hugged and cried and laughed thru it together. Chesney is VERY protective of Miranda and I love seeing how nurturing of a person she is. Can't say I'm surprised, Ches is fierce when it comes to her friends and family. Dallas is outnumbered now but I think he's loving it! Just one more person to play cars with!!

So...I'm sure I could just go on and on but rest assured, I'll keep you all updated.

My Fave Things Pt.1

My house usually smells like something. Now stop...something GOOD! I always get comments on how nice the kitchen or bathroom smells!! Ok, here's my secret.....CALDREA!! Caldrea Citrus Mint Ylang Ylang countertop cleaner!

I was shopping at TJMaxx one day a couple years ago and found it in their home section. It was on sale twice over and it was a good deal so I bought it, smell un~smelled!! When I finally pulled it out from under the sink and used it a few weeks later, I was in LOVE! It smells lovely, works great and it's enviromentally friendly! I use it as an all around cleaner, it's soo much more than just it's title! Now I just go to caldrea.com to replenish my supply and have found other scents that are just as smelly~good! They have everything from dish soap to laundry soap and they also have an AWESOME body line for grown ups and babies! But my fave will always be the CMYY!

It's too quiet

David is at work. The girls are at the pool. Dallas is at Ganny's til 6.
Normally I'd be all WHOOPIE!! about having the house all to myself. I mean, I can get a lot done. Like the laundry, catching up on my reading, even taking a long soak in a bubble bath or even better, a looong nap. But no. Not me. Not today. Instead I have found myself walking around the house in and out of the kids' rooms looking around at all their belongings, toys, gadgets and what nots with a smile. Standing quietly in the middle of my room running my fingers across the smoothness of the comforter that lies in a heap at the foot of our unmade bed. Peering into the fridge for what seemed like forever hoping that the next great American recipe would just pop up in my head and I'd be cooking away. Laying here on the couch with this laptop listening to the AC kick off and on and the roar of tractors and other farm~ish type vehicles driving by thinking to myself....hmmm? Because that is the only sound I can make right now. It's a content hmmm.
Soon my home will be filled with sound. Chesney laughing just like I do. Dallas making vroom vroom crash sounds with his Transformer of the day. David outside weed eating HIS lawn..(expertly I may add) Maybe I'll just lie here a bit longer and relish the quiet. Close my eyes and enjoy the sound of contentment. hmmmm

How much for a pair of jeans?!?!

Yesterday was the big day. Yes folks, I'm talking about SCHOOL CLOTHES SHOPPING DAY.
Call me crazy, but I actually really like this day. The excitement, the runnin' til your're ragged, the "Oh hell no you are not wearing that...EVER", and the ever popular, "How much? Do I look like I'm made of money? $100 for a pair of ripped up jeans?!" Anyways, David lucked out and was at work all day so it was off too the mall and Target we went. "WE" consisits of Chesney, Dallas, Miranda, my Mom and Dad and yours truly. My parents have long been friends to the "kids clothes fund". It's something that they have helped out with dollar wise since Ches was little. (Hallelujah!!!) I'll keep this short and sweet tho cause we spent a good 6 or so hours in and out of EVERY single teen/juniors store in the mall and Target! Taking a break to eat an awesome lunch at Old Chigago to refuel of course. Here's the girls with their mouths not full of food or saying "how cute...love it...ooh, I want this one...or does it come in yellow or green?"


I came out alive. So did the wallet. And so did Dallas as this was his first foray into the wonderful world of school clothes shopping. He made out, too! Tons of "awesome rocker guy stuff" as he put it!

One month til school starts!!!!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

These crazy girls crack me up! Allow me to present...Miranda, Tori, and Ches!! They decided to play dress up, 80's Valley Girl style! It was totally radical to see them all dressed up and being silly girls!

Dallas' BDay party

I'm so not the party planner type. Dallas' 5th BDay party was yesterday and it was just a good old fasioned cake and ice cream deal. My sister Kari and I made the chocolate cakes the night before so we wouldn't be rushed the day of, great idea sister! That's about the extent of the planning...everyone showed up that said they would (holy crap) and I thought I had enough paper plates and plastic forks (soo0 not Green of me) and I made some pink lemonade. And ewww...that does NOT go well with chocolate. Anyways, we just barely squeeked by with enough forks, I think a mom or two had to share forks with their kiddos! Dallas blew out the candles before we even got to sing Happy Birthday! Present time was exciting as he thanked everyone for their gifts and cards and I'm very happy to say that the game Trouble got a bigger response than the Wii did! Who'd a thunk?
Anyways, it was quick, fun and an easy clean up. That's my kinda party! Dallas had a good time with his friends and tells me that he knows everyone had a good time cause "everyone likes cake and ice cream, Yaya!"

They love me for my mashed potatoes

It's probably the one thing that I know I pretty much do better than anyone else. Seriously. I make THE BEST MASHED POTATOES. I know this cause everyone who has ate them loves them. I decided to old school it tonight with supper. Well, I kinda did last night too. It was breakfast for supper last night, the whole shebang...French Toast with Cinnamon, scrambled eggs, bacon, hashbrowns(homemade not frozen!!) with and without onions and green peppers and chocolate milk so thick it damn near stuck to your ribs! But I digress...Tonights dinner was meatloaf, the aformentioned mashed potatoes which will now just go by the name of MY mashed potatoes, and sweet corn and crusty bread. And oh my was it yummy!! While my mashed potatoes are ALWAYS delicious the meatloaf is touch and go as I always go with my own whatever-sounds-good recipe for it! But it too was delicious! I used Mrs. Cubbisons meatloaf mix from the WonderBread store and added to it one egg and instead of just ground beef, I used one pound each lean ground beef and lean ground turkey. And I always use Schwans sweet corn, it just tastes better. Now I can't tell you all my secrets with the taters but I'll tell you this...it is seriously doctored up!! I have always said I wanted to leave my mark in just a small way, maybe I'll pass on my mashed potato "recipe"....I know Chesney will love/cherish owning it!!

And away I go...

I'm not sure where to begin? I've never blogged before, so bear with me. A dear friend of mine, Laura, has such a talent/knack for all things creative and she has a blog (elephant juice) that I LOVE! And now here I am, inspired to do the same!
As I sit here, my home is a buzz with random activities. My son Dallas and his cousin Gabe are playing (read..running around like mad men) and my daughter Chesney is outside watching and giggling as her boyfriend Zach and his friend Isaac are popping some kind of fireworks. Ches's friend Miranda is still sleeping downstairs. Ahhh, those endless summer nights of a teenager lend to sleeping the mornings away!! The washer is running as usual and the sound of my fan still on from last night plays white noise in the background. And from somewhere in the house, or is it the front porch...my presense is being requested as Dallas and Gabe are THIRRRRRRRRSTYYYYYY!!!!!