Whatever Wednesday

I don't think it would be fair to be 'wordless' today since I haven't posted since Sunday.

So let's see. Where to start.

Let's go back to last Wednesday.

Wednesday: I broke my elliptical machine. As my friend Diane says, I rode it until the wheels fell off. Not quite, but close. Some part in the wheel housing is broken. I just hope it's not forever before we order the part and get it repaired.

Thursday: Went for a run. Took a nap. Played two softball games.

Friday: Woke up super sore, more from the run than from softball, it was rough. We took the kids to the local Children's Museum. I had never been there. I was impressed with how much stuff there was for the children to do. If we're going to make a habit of going there, we'll need to look into a membership or something...it was expensive for the four of us to go.

Saturday: Hubs was out of town, so I did a lotta nothin'. I spent a lot of time on the laptop finishing a few blog designs for my friends.

Sunday: Had a great time at church. Still sore.

Monday: Felt much better. Donald and I took the kids to the park when he got home from work and we played tennis on courts near the playground. We played for over an hour; so fun! We haven't played in years...it brought back so many memories. We took tennis for our P.E. credit in college. We would play during class and go play more after school...then of course, we'd go out to lunch...cause doesn't everyone do a lot of eating in college? I hope we get to play tennis more often...


Tuesday: Tricia, the double-lung transplant recipient, was discharged from the hospital just 20 days after her transplant. How exciting!! Baby Gwyneth has to reach a few more milestones before she can be released...but that day is getting closer and closer!


In other news, I got my hair chopped off. I tried to let it grow out, but I was so over it. I have a new, sassy little haircut and I love it! Check it out!!

Super yummy recipe!

You MUST try this for your next Christmas gathering!

I tried this super little desert at a party last year and I absolutely fell in love. I begged for the recipe and made it several times last year. With FOUR parties to attend this weekend, I whipped up a batch today. Two people asked me for the recipe!! ((pats self on back)) Guess I make them pretty well!! Enjoy!

Butter Brickle Bars
Bottom layer:
1 egg
1 stick of butter
1 yellow cake mix
-- melt butter, mix in egg and cake mix. Spread and flatten on cookie sheet.

Top layer:
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 can Eagle brand milk
1 cup chopped pecans
1 bag brickle bits
-- mix together and spread onto cake mix.

Bake at 350 for 25 - 27 minutes...until top is browned.

DE-LISH!!!

It's Thanksgiving!!

Wow, it’s Thanksgiving. A time to wear pants that are a size too big so you can eat until you nearly explode. A time to search the sale papers in hopes of finding an unbeatable deal on the latest gadget. A time to see family…and play annoying games like Catch Phrase. (My family doesn’t play this game without arguing. It’s coming. Sigh.)

This year, I want to be sure not to take for granted the blessings I have in my life. If I could count my blessings and name them one by one, I’d do it. I just know that I am blessed beyond measure.

I ‘blog-lifted’ the acrostic idea below…and I’m thankful for finding this post to lift it from.

T-ime! Time with loved ones. I have been given another wonderful year with all of my family. I wish that all family members would participate in being a family…there’s so much love to be shared. It is a blessing to have a great family.

H-usband! My husband has gotten a lot of attention lately, with his trip to India and his milestone birthday. It is so sweet to watch him with the kids. It is so cool to know that he’s ‘The Man’ at work. It is so fortunate that he puts up with me. He is an awesome husband…I think I’ve made that pretty clear!

A-mazing Grace. I’m so grateful to God for sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay my debt. Ephesians 2:8

N-o broken bones. I think our kids are sort of clumsy…Evan more so than Ella. It’s a GREAT blessing that we haven’t had to go to the ER with him…YET! I am completely aware that the day is coming…I just hope hubs is in town when it happens!!

K-ids. Oh my precious children…a true gift from God...a reward. I am SO thankful to have them…even though we’d like to rip each other’s lips off sometimes, they are really great, smart, FUNNY young’uns and I love them dearly.

F-riends. Friends are the ‘family’ you pick for yourself. My friends listen when I need to vent, help in a pinch and give me honest feedback in any situation. I have some amazing friends!

U-nforgettable memories. Sure, sometimes it’s annoying when you mess up ONE little time and everyone remembers it…but sometimes it’s down right funny to rehash certain moments. At every family gathering, these issues come up: “Who made the mashed potatoes this time…they don’t taste like a salt-lick” – from the time the salt measurement was WAY over measured. “Watch your glass, a roll may land in it” – when ‘pass me a roll’ got exciting! “Toss me your keys, no wait, don’t” – from the time tossing said keys resulted in a broken light fixture. “I never get to sit on a tray” – from when my cousin expressed disappointment over having to sit at the boring adult table…again. “Watch your krispy treat, she likes to snatch’em” – I may have taken ‘candy from a baby’ – but it was my husband I snatched it from, honest!! Please notice that, with the exception of telling on myself in the last topic, I have protected the identities of whom these things happened to…I’d hate to embarrass someone!

L-aptop!! I got a laptop over the weekend and I’m SO excited! Now I don’t have to ‘abandon’ the kids to check email and/or blog during the day!! YAY me!


May God bless you and yours this day. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Ahh...we're home!

Wow!! We were gone for so long that Ella was telling people that we had moved to North Carolina!! She really started to think that we were going to live in the Cherry Point Inn at the Cherry Point Marine Air Station forever. We all enjoyed the trip, but I think we are all glad to be home. I told Donald, "I really hate our bed, but I'll be glad to be back in it." I've mentioned the hatred of my bed before...so you KNOW I must be happy to be home! I'm sure I'll be complaining about the bed again in a day or two!

We were all very excited about our road trip.
Here's Evan enjoying his ride...

The kids watched movies as we drove across what seemed to be the two widest states in America...we are tired of driving!! The young'uns are tired of riding. I won't be surprised if they flip out the next time we put them in the car....then again, maybe they've ridden so much lately that it feels like a second home. Food, drinks, movies...what else do you need, right? Maybe Ella should've told everyone that we moved into our van and became nomads. Donald and I agree that they did a fantastic job handling all the traveling. They didn't lose their minds until we were within a mile of our house. It was late and they were half asleep...and sleeping sitting up in their carseats just wasn't cuttin' it anymore!

A few things we did on the trip:

--- In Pigeon Forge, TN - we went to the Dixie Stampede. If you've never been, you should put it on your 'to-do' list. There's nothing like eating an entire meal without utensils like a caveman. Typically the Stampede is a series of competitions between the Yankees and the Rebels...but lucky us, beginning October 31st, they started their Christmas Stampede. I think it was probably better for the kids...it was the North Pole against the South Pole. They have beautiful horses that Ella just LOVED and her favorite treat was the live Nativity. They had the 3 wise men ride in on real camels. Ella was THRILLED!! Evan seemed to like the show...but he mostly liked my strawberry slushy drink...that was his treat!

--- Indoor swimming - we stayed in a $45/room hotel with an indoor pool. After the Stampede we were able to swim. These little fish of ours jumped right in and had a blast! What fun!

--- To the movies - I think Ella has been anticipating the release of Bee Movie since she starting seeing the previews on TV two months ago. It's a good little movie. The story line is over their heads, but they liked seeing the bees...and getting the toys at McDonald's.

--- To an aquarium - The Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores was pretty cool. We were able to pet stingrays and horseshoe crabs. They had a really awesome tank with beautiful jellyfish - that was my favorite. It was sort of a small place...but not near as expensive as the Ripley's aquarium.

--- To the beach - YAY!! Mommy's most favorite thing!! I could sit near the ocean for hours just to listen to the waves...and my fair-skinned self would be 'lobsterfied' in no time. The weather was great...not quite bathing suit weather, but we were certainly able to roll up our pants and walk through the waves. Evan wasn't satisfied with walking...he did a belly flop...actually, I think a wave knocked him over. He ended up all wet and had to ride home in only his diaper. I absolutely LOVE these pictures!

--- Bowling! - We've never taken the kids bowling, they loved it! They had bumpers for the gutters and a ramp for them to 'bowl' down. We decided that it would take forever to get a game in if they had to push the ball down the lane under their own power...they did it a few times and we've never seen a ball roll so s-l-o-w-l-y.

--- The Cow Cafe - a cool little diner in New Bern, NC. I saw a commercial one day for this restaurant and thought it looked fun. I had no idea that it even had a little play area in the back for the kids. It was a popular little spot for all the preschool moms to bring their little ones after they picked them up at noon. All these kids started coming in and they all knew each other. I got to talking to one of the moms...turned out that she had a 7 year old named Ella...she told me that they come there often. The Cow Cafe makes their own ice cream. Do you have to ask? Of COURSE I had some!! It was delish! :) Oh and leave it to my 'animal-enthusiast' daughter to know just what to do with udders...

Bull-riding at Wal-mart. WMs at home don't have bulls. :(

We also found the library on base, played at the park and attended a few basketball games with Daddy. That's his job you know...his 'business' trips are to watch a tournament for whatever sport is up...this time it was basketball. In January...he has to go to Hawaii to watch bowling!...hmm...think mama can tag along on this one??? ( I'm SO hoping so!!)

Random-ness

Four days until Donald leaves...and I'm dreading it. The kids and I will have to take him to the airport Monday morning. The last time I took him to the airport for a trip, not quite this long, was four years ago and I bawled like a baby...my excuse is that I was pregnant at the time. Maybe I won't cry...but maybe I will.
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I received a few great compliments today about our children. Smart. Well-behaved. And I'll say it again...as long as they're well-behaved for everyone else, I can deal with them driving ME crazy!! :)
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I've started planning Evan's 2nd birthday party. I designed his invitations last night. Tomorrow the kids and I will drive to 'town' to investigate a new park as the potential party location. I love celebrating the kids' birthdays...for now it seems to go exactly how I like it...another year or two and they'll be planning it! (Ella has already decided that she wants a pony party).
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The turtle, Jonathan Michael (Ella named him), is still in the backyard. I took a bowl of water out there along with some apples (what do you feed a turtle? Guess I should google that), but it doesn't seem impressed with my hospitality...or lack of. Ungrateful freeloader.

On the road again...

There will be lots of traveling this fall. Donald had a trip this week. He left on Monday and will return Saturday morning...then he'll leave again next Thursday for six days. In October, Donald will spend two weeks in India for the Military World Games...Ick! He'll have one other trip in November and finally be done for the year...but my goodness!!

The kids and I have been making it just fine. We are usually on each other's nerves by about the 3rd day that Daddy is gone...but we have stayed busy! Tuesdays I work at my friend Debbie's house and we added a church function to that last night. Then on Wednesdays we attend a Bible Study and then have our usual Wed. Night Church activities...throw in getting an oil change and we had plenty to do today.

I emailed my dad last week to see if I could bring the kids up for a visit while Donald was out of town and we had the free time. Dad seemed excited...so we'll be off in the morning. I am setting out on my first solo road trip with the babies. I have the DVD player in place and I've got all the snacks I could find in the house!! I hope we have a good time, not a stressful one. We'll come right back home on Friday, but we're looking forward to the time away, time with Papa Tom and watching movies in the car!! :)

I'll recap the adventure for you when we get home! Adios!

GO TIGERS!!

Tomorrow is the kick off of Tiger Football Season...and we're headed to a party! Kevin and Debbie are hosting a nice little football get-together...since THEY have the big screen tv! ha! We are hoping for a better season...

The children did much better today at the grocery. I wasn't desperate to come home and banish them in their beds for a nap. They'll still get one, don't get me wrong, we're just missing that sense of urgency!!

I'm hoping we'll get some pictures this weekend of something to share with you. Maybe the party tomorrow or the church-wide picnic we'll be attending Sunday night. I am still trying to think of something we could do with the kids Monday since Daddy will be off work...but everyone else probably has the same idea and everything will be crowded (like the zoo or waterpark). We shall see!

Have a super weekend!

YIKES!

Oh my, it's been a whole week since I've posted!! Tragic, I know.

I want to get photos together of the pages I accomplished last weekend at Cropical Paradise...26 pages, by the way! I had a great time and am just cranking out pages left and right. Donald says 'what do you have left to scrap'?? What DON'T I have left to scrap?!?!? I'm only THREE years behind in our 'Family' album...and TWO years behind in Ella's book...and since Evan's not two yet, I'm only a mere ONE year and 10 months behind!!! I have, however, been getting my other albums finished...all the small details I had left out previously. I will soon be able to say that I have FIVE finished albums sitting in my home just WAITING to be viewed. I really love my hobby and as long as the time continues to be set aside each month, I will continue to make progress. These 20+ page weekends have really helped! I have an all-day crop tomorrow to go to and I hope to get at least 12 pages completed.

In other news, you should all know that I'm tired of grocery shopping with my two lovely children...b/c in the midst of shopping, they're not so lovely! Shocked??? Today was one of the worst shopping days ever. Evan has really gotten super whiny and Ella just closes her ears, it seems. Argh! I'm trying to calm down for a moment...then I will GLADLY go downstairs and put their rear-ends in the bed...peace is headed my way!

Happy Friday!

It's a 'blogiful' night! Belated Father's Day + Early Birthday

Seems like so many things have happened within the past week. I know, I should've had a post everyday this week...oh well...you'll have some catch-up reading to do!

We were cruising on Father's Day so we weren't able to have a family celebration. It turned out so wonderful...my Daddy was able to be in town (he had a job interview in Jackson, TN...pray about that, thanks! Celia wasn't here...we missed you CeCe!). Anyway, Donald and I volunteered to host the dinner...since we never host the big holidays...and since Donald makes SUPER burgers. We had a great time...my dad, who loves old cars and such, got a cool new 'Grandpa' t-shirt from the babies.

This is Papa Tom!

The other part of the party was dedicated to my Grand-daddy/Papaw. His birthday is the 30th of June...what a great reason to have burgers and CAKE (the BEST cake in town, made by none other than Aunt Rhonda!). Papaw got some dough, a gift card, a shirt, a cooler and a partridge in a pear tree...uh, I mean, a case of wax for his cars. It was really special to celebrate another year with him. Here are some pictures...and let me just say, they didn't seem too excited KNOWING they were going to get blogged!!! They are troopers.......thanks guys, love ya!

The night started off with a great storm...Donald was grilling with lightning flashing around him. Ella was really great with Papa Tom...it usually takes her a while to warm up to him since she doesn't see him much, but this time she jumped right in his lap. He was so tickled! We concluded the night with a beautiful Rainbow...how wonderful...God sure makes some pretty things!

Golden vs. Phillips

The kids and I went over to Kevin and Debbie's to stay with Benjamin and Rachel for a while...so I broke out the camera. You'll see in the pictures that I'm not sure if I actually have a 3 year old or a 3 month old daughter...I am not sure why she steals Rachel's pacifier - she never wanted one as a baby...but it is a funny picture. Benjamin got caught being super silly for the camera and then he and Ella built a 'clubhouse' on the couch. They are really funny - playing together one minute and bugging each other the next. Today Ella pretended that Benjamin was her daddy and she called him that over and over and OVER! Sweet little Rachel - she's just an innocent bystander - happy chewing on her play cell phone or watching a movie with her two favorite blankies. Then there's Evan. Always up to something, and for sure, he does everything like a crazy boy. All the kids love to climb all over the coffee table. Evan fell off today. I'm hoping that what he has done is only a jammed thumb - it's swollen and purple all the way around. I finally spied him fully bending it this evening, so I'm encouraged that it's not broken. Guess I could've taken a picture of THAT to post...he didn't want us looking at it though. I'll check it out tomorrow and try to decide if he needs an x-ray.