Just For Fun

1. All I want for Christmas is: to be with my family - or a pair of fabulous red shoes!!

2. If I could go anywhere in the world I would go to: Africa on a safari

3. People often underestimate the power of: the love a mother has for her children - even before they are born

4. Christmas makes me feel: happy

5. In a perfect world there would be: no bills

6. If I could meet one blogger it would be: I have no idea on this one - I don't read that many

7. The stupidest yet funniest movie ever made was: Tommy Boy

8. My first New Years Resolution will be: to keep on my diet and lose more weight - doing good so far

9. _______ really skeeves me out: congestion - just nasty gross

10. I did this Meme because: It looked like fun.

A B C's of ME

A - Available/Single: Not available, married for 12 1/2 years.
B - Best Friend: my DH Terrance.
C - Cake or Pie: Pie - Pumpkin - yum.
D - Drink of Choice: Unsweet iced tea - no lemon.
E - Essential item you use everyday: Diaper wipes.
F - Favorite color: I've been into an olive green kick lately.
G - Gummy bears or Worms: Bears - definately NOT the sour ones.
H - Hometown: Born in Oklahoma City - but now I consider Tennessee home.
I - Indulgence: Shoes!!!
J - January or February: February - cause we are going to HAWAII.
K - Kids: 3 - Dasya (who is with the Lord), Jordan - 9 and Myles - 2
L - Life is incomplete without: Family that loves you.
M - Marriage Date: August 19, 1994
N - Number of siblings: 1 older sister - that looks much older than me.
O - Oranges or Apples: Apples - Oranges are too high maintenance for every day.
P - Phobias/Fear: Snakes - I loathe snakes.
Q - Favorite Quote: Something that I read that Oprah said a long time ago has always stuck with me: "Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down."
R - Reason to Smile: My kids - I am so proud of them.
S - Season: Used to be summer - but now I am more of a spring/fall type of gal.
T - Tag: What is this??
U - Unknown fact about myself: Although some might know I have a tattoo - most people don't know that I actually have 6.
V - Vegetable you don't like: most of them - but beets just gross me out.
W - Worst habit: I am a compulsive worrier.
X - X-ray: Left ankle, right knee, back, right wrist - is that all of them?
Y - Your favorite food: At the moment - I love General Tso's chicken and Lo Mein noodles.
Z - Zodiac: Cancer - the crab - but I don't know much more than that.

Thanksgiving 2006

The family went to the Smoky Mountains this year for Thanksgiving. My family (Mom, Dad, DH Terrance, sister Stephanie, her husband Travis and all the kids) try to get away to somewhere every other Thanksgiving. On the off year, we spend Thanskgiving with the in-laws. That is fun too, but I really look forward to our Thanksgivings away.


This year we rented a cabin outside Gatilinburg. It was fabulous!! It had 4 bedrooms (each with a king size bed and separate bathroom), 2 living areas (one on the main floor and one downstairs), a pool table, a air hockey table and a hot tub on the deck. This is a view from our balcony...
We had a great time. We went to the Gatlinburg aquarium on Friday morning. While everyone else was out shopping - we were looking at fish. The kids LOVED it!! Myles ran from exhibit to exhibit saying "FISH FISH FISH" until he came to the exhibit with the Dory (Finding Nemo)-looking fish in it - then he switched to "DORY DORY DORY". He also liked the Jellyfish - which he called "Boings" (also from Finding Nemo - Dory bounces and says "Boing boing") Here are some aquarium pics...


We (myself, Terrance, Travis and Jordan) went for a 2-hour trail on Saturday. We had great weather for it. It wasn't too hot or too cold. Perfect. Dad set the whole thing up for Jordan. She had been dying to ride a horse (other than the ponies at the fair) for forever. She had no idea and was so surprised!! Terrance's "horse" was actually a mule (or as Jordan called the horse-donkey hybrid - a "honkey"). That was just too funny!!

Little Natalie decided she was big enough to sit on the horse too...


All in all - it was a great weekend - we couldn't have had better weather and the Myles and Noelle had a great time together - playing and playing! They only fought over this strange purple octopus type thing that Steph and Travis bought at the aquarium - but I hid it and fixed that problem.
Can't wait until the next trip.....

Myles 2 Year Pic

Birthday Boy

Yes it is hard to believe that my baby boy is 2 years old. He is getting so big. I thought I would share with you some pics and show you what a difference a couple of years makes.....

Six weeks old

One year

And now the big 0 - 2

What was your favorite book when you were growing up?

I'd have to say that I had 2 favorite books :
This was definitely one of my absolute favorite books. I just loved everything about it. After Jordan was born, we got her a copy of the book too and she loves it. I would read that book over and over and over and look at all of the details in the pictures.

My other favorite is:

I first read this book in 4th or 5th grade with my class. I thought this was the most exciting book I had ever read. I don't have a copy if it now but it is definitely on my "get" list.

Five's

Stolen from Steph's

If I had five minutes to myself, I'd

#1 Read one of my books in peace (I have several started)

#2 Finish just one project without having to get a cookie or fill up a sippie-cup or stop in any way

#3 Take a nap (I know, I know - I only have 5 minutes - but maybe they'd forget for a few more minutes. :)

#4 Shave my legs

#5 Sit on my porch and relax without someone knocking on the door asking me what I am doing

If I had $5 to spend, I'd

#1 Go to the dollar store so I could get 5 goodies with my $5

#2 Go to Coffee Beanery and get a cafe caramel (my one coffee drink I like)

#3 Go to the half price book store and get a new book

#4 Buy some dum-dum suckers for the kids

#5 Probably none of the above - I'd probably just put it in my wallet and wait for someone (DH or J) to ask me if I have any money and then hand it over.....sigh....

Five Items I'd love to get rid of:

#1 The stack of boxes in our garage that I never seem to go through and clean out

#2 All the "fat" clothes in my closet

#3 All the bills that just keep coming and coming and coming - month after month after month....

#4 The constant back pain

#5 My glasses

Five Items I wouldn't part with:

#1 My family and how I love that they are all so close by

#2 My cell phone

#3 My soft green blanket that I watch TV under

#4 My kids baby-sitter - she is a life-saver and such a blessing!! A wonderful woman.

#5 My quirks - they make me - ME!!

Five Words or Phrases I'd love to hear:

#1 "We have lots of money - go shopping and buy whatever you want!!" (Course, I wouldn't because I would feel too guilty)

#2 "Let's get a baby-sitter for the evening and go out - just the two of us. And I don't want to go to anywhere that is showing a game on TV - I just want to sit and talk and enjoy ourselves.".....ha ha ha - that one made me laugh just writing it.

#3 "I feel like you should have this HUGE raise. You've earned it."

#4 "You can diet if you want to, but you really don't need to lose weight."

#5 "Mommy, I can pee in the potty!!"

List 10 of life's simple pleasures:

~ An amazing Lord that forgives and forgives and forgives...and is helping me to be the woman I want to be.
~ A wonderful husband that understands me and my quirks.
~ A daughter that is excited about going to school each day.
~ A baby boy that is excited to see me every time I leave and come back.
~ Pants that are too loose! (Go Victory Chicks!!!)
~ Finally getting my wedding ring fixed.
~ A clean house (for the moment anyway)
~ Painted toenails
~ Unsweet iced tea
~ A good book to read

Courtesy of Women at Home

5 Things

Found at Steph's

5 Things in my Refrigerator:
1. Grapes - lots of grapes
2. Baby carrots
3. Coke (actually Sam's Choice brand)
4. Bread
5. Leftover lasagne from Wednesday night - yum!!

5 Things in My Closet:
1. All of my wonderful SHOES!!!
2. Clothes
3. Foam bath toy letters that Myles threw in there
4. DH's clothes
5. Leftover wrapping paper

5 Things in My Purse:
1. Wallet
2. Address book/planner
3. Tampons - don't leave home without them
4. Lipstick case
5. Keys

5 Things in My Car:
1. Baby gift for shower this afternoon
2. Assorted Jordan junk
3. Cell phone ear piece (for hand-free talking ~ safety first!!)
4. 1 car seat
5. Keys to my sister's house

SOUL PATROL!!!!!!!

GO TAYLOR!!!!

We are huge American Idol fans at our house and were so excited to see Taylor win last night. It was a great finale (with a few wierd performances - hello?? - Meat Loaf??) but the best one so far. I have been watching AI since the first season and have not been so excited about a performer since Kelly Clarkson (love her!!).


Can't wait for the CD to come out.


Proud member of the SOUL PATROL!!!

I've Been Tagged

Thanks, Steph!!


Accent: Mostly Southern - I love my "y'all" and I constantly get teased about the way I say "oil"


Bible Book that I like: I really like the gospels - all 4


Chore that I don’t care for: Cleaning the toilet - I won't get graphic - but it's nasty


Dog or Cat: Dog - an adorable cocker/terrier mix named Abby.


Essential Electronics: DVD player - how else would Myles get to watch his "Nemo"


Favorite Cologne: If I am feeling springy, I like "Happy" by Clinique, if I am feeling more romantic, I like "Safari" by Ralph Lauren


Gold or Silver: My wedding rings are gold but my watch is silver - so both I guess


Handbag I Carry most often: A $13 purse I got at Wal-mart - I kindof like it.


Insomnia: Yes, though not as much since Myles was born. I used to be up until at least midnight every night. Cannot stand just lying in bed - so, I don't go to bed until I have nodded off at least once on the couch.


Job Title: Wife, mother and Accounts Payable Coordinator for a restaurant franchise


Kids: 3, Dasya (who would have been 11 this August- she died at birth), Jordan (8 1/2) and Myles (19 months)
Living Arrangements: Just bought our first house!!! It is a three bedroom, two bathroom house with a bonus room above the garage. I love it.


Most Admirable Trait: This is a tough one - I guess my friendlyness. My friend at work asks me if I take my "happy pill" in the morning because I am so friendly with the vendors and managers that call.


Naughtiest childhood behavior: I climbed the fence behind our house when we lived in Dallas, TX - there was a daycare behind our house and my friends from school would be there. I was told not to by my dad. I fell off and cut my upper arm pretty bad and my dad (after he bandaged me up) asked me how I cut it. I lied and said I must have cut it on something in the alley - I got in double trouble - for lying and climbing the fence.


Overnight hospital stay: 3 c-sections


Phobias: Snakes - I HATE snakes.


Quote: I read this quote from Oprah once and thought it was great: "Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down."


I also liked this quote I read somewhere: "Marriage resembles a pair of shears, so joined that they cannot be separated, often moving in opposite directions, yet always punishing anyone who comes between them." by Sydney Smith


Religion: Born again Christian!


Siblings: One older sister


Time I wake up: Usually around 5:30 or 6:00


Unusual Talent or skill: I don't think I have any


Vegetable I refuse to eat: Most of them - I don't like veggies


Worst habit: I drive too fast!! I have been trying to slow down.


X-rays: Dental, ankle (from rolling it off my mother-in-law's sidewalk), back (bicycle accident), wrist (hurdles at track practice in junior high)


Yummy stuff I cook: I make a yummy cobbler - my food usually looks better than it tastes - not that it tasts bad, I just arrange it nicely.


Zoo animal I like most: Monkeys and tigers.

Munchkins

My poor little M was sick all weekend. He woke up Saturday with a temperature of about 102. I gave him some Tylenol and it dropped briefly. By about 2:30 or so Saturday afternoon, it was back up and wouldn't go down this time. By 10:00 Saturday night, he woke up with a temp of 104.1 and his nose bleeding. I was pretty nervous by this time. J hardly ever gets sick and has NEVER had a fever that high.


I called the Vanderbilt Nurse's Hot Line and spoke with one nurse who asked if I had any Motrin. I told her I had just bought some and she figured out his dose from his age and weight and told me to give him 1 1/2 teaspoons. So I did..... As I was washing out the dropper, I was reading the back of the Motrin box and it said to give him 1.875 ml and that 5 ml were in a teaspoon. I was thinking OH MY GOSH - I have totally over-medicated him. Needless to say, I called the nurses' line back and spoke with another nurse. She said that that was the correct dosage and asked if I gave him children's Motrin. I told her, "no", that I had given him infants Motrin. She said, in that case, yes, I gave him way too much.


I started to panic a little at that point. It didn't help any that T was holding M on the couch and kindof giving me the evil-eye. I told him that I had just done what the nurse had told me. I have never bought him childrens cold medicine for fever's so it never occured to me that the dosage was not for infants.


Anyway, the nurse three-way called the poison control and they said that he should be fine. I guess Motrin is a lot more forgiving if you give them too much. They said if I had done that with Tylenol, I would have had to take him to the ER. He slept really well that night and didn't have any fever Sunday morning but by mid-morning it was back. Poor little guy, he wasn't hardly eating at all and running a fever too....


By Monday morning, he was still running a fever and they (the Vanderbilt nurses) said that if his fever wasn't gone by Monday to take him to the doctors. So I did. He has a virus that the Dr. said would just have to work out of his system.


By Monday afternoon, his fever was down and has been down since. Thank God!!! He took care of my little M!! - and kept me from freaking out!!

Miscellaneous

Found at Heather’s…




current book: Rereading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - read if fast the first time just to get through it - now I need to go back through it slower


current playlist: Downloaded some of my favorite "Hair Metal" songs like Slaughter's "Fly to the Angels" and GnR's "Paradise City" - also have been listening to my fav AI song's that I down loaded from another site


current shame-inducing guilty pleasure: Love American Idol - GO TAYLOR!!! Also, am still a Survivor fan


current color: I am really into that mint green lately - and pink. I am trying to colorize my wardrobe, tired of only having black shirts


current fetish: Aldi's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies - they are soft and yummy


current drink: Unsweet Iced Tea - no lemon, or regular coke


current food: We are really into long grain and wild rice, J has decided that she likes it so we have it with about every meal.


current favorite favorite: Days where I don't have to do a thing - haven't had one of those in a long time.


current wish-list: A fence for our back yard so I can quit walking the dog. :) Some shelves for my living room and pantry.


current needs: To finally lose this post-baby weight


current triumph: Awana is almost over for the year!! I have my Wednesday's back.


current bane(s) of my existence: Sick little one, no fence (again)


current celebrity crush: TV - Bradley Cooper from Alias, Movies - Brad Pitt (even though he left his wife - he is sooo pretty) :)


current indulgence: Don't really have one that I can think of.


current #1 blessings: Husband, children, our new house


current slang or saying: I don't really have one, but J always says "Snap!"


current outfit: Olive green cargo/type pants and a black shirt


current excitement: Hubby and I have been doing search-a-words like crazy - are we that nerdy!?!?


current mood: Busy - why am I doing this instead of working??


current link: W@H


current pictures: Bubby at the park (my sis took this pic for me)

Very First Post

Testing Testing - Trying this out.