Confused Mommy of Three

I'll say I'm 30..........

2008-11-29T14:51:00.000-05:00

My 30th birthday was last Tuesday......and I'm okay with that. I've been okay with that. Actually last year I was ready to skip 29 all together and move on to 30. Maybe I just didn't want to post-pone the inevitable, or maybe I was just ready for the next chapter in my life.

I think over the last couple years I've really grown as a person, as a mother, a wife, a daughter. The last couple years have taught me a lot about life. I'm not perfect, but I feel like I'm becoming a person who I'm proud to be. I still make mistake, I'm sure I always will, but I've learned that you learn from them, you apologize for them, and you try not to repeat them.

I'm happy with the direction my life is going and who I'm becoming....and I'm happy with everything I have accomplished in life so far..... I'm truly happy ......

And I truly believe that 30 is just a stepping stone.....from where we've been to where we are and to where we are going......

But let's not discuss 40 just yet.................

I've got 10 years to make peace with that......

For now enjoy some of the things I truly believe!

And mottos I like to live by.......

And teach my children.........

And share with my friends......

Thanksgiving..........Through Pictures

2008-11-28T11:16:00.016-05:00

If only you knew how many pictures like this that I take before I actually get a shot that has three smiling faces!
Or like this.....
We had a great Thanksgiving Day, with family and friends........We started the day off going for lunch at my Aunt Margaret's ( My mom's family). The food, oh the food! It's awesome!
I think Aaron's favorite part was playing football out in the yard with the boys.....Cody and Dalton were more supervising Aaron and Grant though...

Mom, you just said don't get muddy, you didn't say I couldn't get grass stains.........
"Puh-lease, try not to hit your sister in the head with the football.......I don't care if you were just passing it!"
Nope she's not crying she's tougher than that, she just got something in her eye!
Okay I'm taking a break..........
As Mom tells Dad that this would make a really cute picture if Aaron would have had a haircut! lol
You just can't appreciate this picture unless you look at it up close.....it's the way he's holding his leg up, pulling back the ball, and most importantly...it's all how he's holding his tongue.....
And he launches it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here I'll give you something to take a picture of!
This was the final result!

Then after we left my Aunt Margaret's we come home and have everyone over for Thanksgiving dinner at our house......

And what's Thanksgiving with a little bit of wrestling.........
I'll save you Savannah!!!!!

And Here Starts Thanksgiving through Brienne's pictures!
Unsuspecting Beth.....
That must be where Aaron gets the tongue thing........
Uh oh Savannah and Aaron are trapped!!
Kevin and Paul horsing around....
Savannah wants to play too!
Beautiful Rosalind!
Brienne needs a little bit more practice on the unsuspecting shots!

My mother would kill me! lol
Amy...........the best lip purser in the family hehe she loves me!
Jim......need not say more!
That would have been an adorable pic if Brie had either zoomed in on Nathan or zoomed out a little to include Mom Dillard.

Look at little Rye Rye.......he's getting to be such a big boy!!

I take it she didn't let Larry know she was taking the picture...

This picture of Brie's I'm very proud of she did a great job....I think it helped she had such a good photogenic subject as well.....

This is about the only time I come out from behind the camera......if one of my children ask to take pictures.....
I honestly think I could have fallen asleep at this point.....I think it was partially turkey coma, and partially I just don't have my strength back 100% yet.....I just tire out easy...it could also be that neither one of us went to bed til 4am that morning and got back up at 9am....that might have something to do with it! lol

I'll leave it with this.........We had a very wonderful Thanksgiving filled full of family and friends and great food, and tons to be thankful for............Hope everyone else had a great Holiday!

And a special thank you to everyone who made it great!!!

With a Thankful Heart

2008-11-27T11:04:00.003-05:00

I love Thanksgiving! Not only is it filled with good foods such as Turkey, dressing, dumplins, pumpkin pie, but it's also a holiday were you think about what you are thankful for!

I have so many things in my life that I am thankful for right now. I have a wonderful husband who is the best man I could ever ask for to have in my life, as well as an awesome father to my children. (And he buys amazing flowers!) I have three beautiful, healthy, happy children who are my life! I have an amazing set of parents, and who are also wonderful grandparents! We also have wonderful extended family!

We have a roof over our heads, and food on our table, and thankfully the economy situation right now has not touched us as badly as others. We have wonderful friends, and great jobs, we can send our children to a private Christian school.

I just have so very many things to be thankful for in my life, and I think it's a good thing to set back and reflect on those things once in a while. It reminds you when you are having a bad day, that you do have so much going for you, you can't let a little bad get you down. I'm also thankful that even though it's not always as much as I'd like....I am thankful that I am at a point in my life where once in a while when someone needs it I can Pay it Forward.

I'm even thankful for all the small things like Mexican food, hot chocolate, wine, pictures of my kids so when I'm old and senile I'll remember what they looked like (lol), my camera, candles, and many many more!

From our house to yours......I hope you all have a very wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving Day!!!

Another Part of Hubers........

2008-11-20T22:26:00.000-05:00

Tractors...........Aaron loves this part. I think it might be his favorite......They have several different real size tractors set up attached to some of the wagons with pumpkins.

They leave them there so the kids can climb on them and play to an extent.....
It makes for a great picture op anyway!

And I couldn't get Aaron out of the seat!
Chasity wanted a turn.........
She's country girl at heart!
But um, Aaron couldn't quite let go......
And I couldn't get Brienne in the seat....too big for such things, can you imagine!!

I Admit It............

2008-11-19T07:03:00.003-05:00

I have this graphic on my My Space page, and it's true, I am spoiled. Very very spoiled.

But that's not a bad thing right? I don't think so.....I was taken very good care of last week after having surgery and I'm sure spoiled by him. Am I thankful for it, hecky yes!

Now in the same breathe, he's equally as spoiled as I am.......now not last week, last week was all about me, but now that I am starting to get better he knew what was coming. I'm off work for 6 weeks so that means, good meals every night, the house will always be clean, he'll have baked goods, his laundry will always be done, I won't be complaining I have too much to do....he knows....

And it's not just while I'm off work either......he knows even when I'm working he still gets spoiled, maybe not to the same extent but none the less he does...

And yeah I hear it from my friends about how spoiled I am....."oh my husband would never do that", but then in the same breathe...."If I did that for my husband he'd think he got a new wife"............To me it's give and take.........WE SPOIL EACH OTHER.

Huber's Orchards and Farm

2008-11-18T19:18:00.005-05:00

We have taken the kids here every year for as long as I can remember to pick their pumpkins and do other such things. The kids love it, James loves it, and I love it........there are parts of course that each of us enjoy more than another, but never the less, it's a fun family thing that we all look forward to every single year!
Pumpkins are a BIG part of Huber's Farm. Just look at the punkins!! They are so pretty, and bright, and big, and I love to get on the wagon and go out and pick my own! And find the perfect pumpkin!

Here we take a wagon ride by tractor and head out to the fields of pumpkins to find our perfect one!
We went early enough this year the majority of them are still on the vine, and ripe for pickin'!

Here my family starts pondering their pumpkin choices as mom snaps away behind the camera!!

Looks it's Mom!!!!! With a gawd awful snarl on her face! (See it's better when I'm behind the camera) I'm sure one of the kids were doing something, or maybe it was the sun, my week of morphine and percocets last week has taken away some of my memory I fear...though small minute things, I'm sure if I hadn't had that morphine pump, I'd be able to tell you why I snarled....can't now though that will forever be lost!
Oh look Aaron has that snarl too....I'm going to say it's the sun....( I don't care if I did have one sun glasses)

You think it was me or the sun wearing them out????
I'll go with the sun again! lol

See I don't always snarl....I smile

I'll have more to come.....there is just too much to put in one post, it's overwhelming, it's always such a great day!!!!

Where Have I been???

2008-11-16T00:28:00.003-05:00

First off horrible pic of me, but it says something about that point! lol I was tired and wore out and trying to get everything in my life organized!

So much has gone on over the last few months, and honestly I had been feeling horrible! This past Tuesday I did what I thought would take care of part of the problem, in turn I found out that what I did might actually take care of the whole problem!

I went in on Tuesday to have a partial hysterectomy, which was suppose to take care of the condition I had Adenomyosis which was causing me to have horrible periods, with stomach and back pain. In having this done I also found out that I had endometriosis, so it seems now that that might be the cure of everything! Only time will tell.

So now I'm off work for the next 6 weeks and honestly I plan on spending quite a bit of time on my blog! I've neglected it in the past few months and I so miss it!
Here is an updated picture of the kids from the pumpkin patch!
Aaron at the girls fall festival at school....
Chassy B at my nephews birthday party.....

And Brie at same said bday party........

I miss horses

2008-09-28T17:11:00.002-04:00

When I was growing up we use to have horses. I use to love to ride, it was one of my favorite things to do! I couldn't wait for my dad to saddle my horse!!
It's been years since I rode and I'd love to start riding again one day! I swear if I ever won the lottery I would buy a horse farm!
I have a said how much I miss having horses???

Interesting Couple of Weeks

2008-09-18T17:09:00.003-04:00

I can't believe I've been away from my blog this long, it's been a interesting couple of weeks. End of August and September are always crazy for me and I always have so much going on I barely have time to gather my thoughts much less post them into anything coherent that other people would want to read.

I have plenty of stuff to post about and plan in the next week or two to get some good posting going on about what has been happening.

The main thing on my mind right now is that Ike hit Louisville with a vengeance , actually it was like a Category 1 Hurricane hit our city. For a city that is that far inland it was disastrous, we are not prepared for a Hurricane....school has been out all week...we came out pretty well for the most party...except this--------------------

Thankfully James had just gotten out of his truck when he heard the cracking and ran up on the porch. The truck is totaled , but that's all mute point to me, he's fine physically. I think a little bit mentally shaken.

But anyway hopefully in the next few weeks things will get back to normal and I'll be around more! I miss my blogger friends! I have missed reading other's blogs!

Cincinnati, Newport, Erlanger

2008-08-20T18:13:00.008-04:00

We didn't have much time to sight see while we were gone this weekend, but Sunday we did hit Newport, Kentucky which is just a bridge drive to Cincinnati....we wanted to eat lunch down on the river front before we left and hit a few shops!

This was the fireman who my sister in law took a picture of, I do believe that was Laura's idea.....and they did ring their bell for us without us even asking!
Amy said she took this picture because it reminded her of Brie......she was my photographer as I was driving! I kept saying Hey Amy get that, get this! She loves me...

I thought that building was cool over on the left....I'm not even sure what it is!
Just one of the bridges
And another bridge
And another......this was actually our view from the patio at Claddagh Irish Pub, it was so nice just sitting on the patio and eating, enjoying the view and the nice weather we had that day.

I tried to get a picture of one of the paddle boats that came by, but the railing was getting in my way from where I was sitting.
This was one of the little shopping squares there, they had a guy on stilts making balloon animals for the kids.
This was Brio again.....I just love this little restaurant...I've never ate there, I just love the look and the fountain they have out front...
Hey it's me! There is a story behind this.....this is right on the corner of Pete Rose Blvd, and Broadway in Cincy....right by the stadium! No where in Newport had a White Cincinnati Reds hat.....so we drove over the bridge and they dropped me off at the corner by a vendor and they were circling the block while I made my purchases for James.....he got a new shirt out of it to while I waited on them!

As we were going back over the bridge!
More on the bridge
And more....
And more
This was for James I'm sure........
That was his hat......that I had to pull teeth to get! lol Amy Amy...shut the window, don't let it blow out the window...AMy Amy...I'm shutting the window! lol
That's the cool Raddison Hotel in the back...it's circular.....
The Cincinnati sky line........it's really pretty....I wish we could have seen it from this angle at night....

Look that's me in the rearview mirror.........Amy you can stop taking pics now
Honestly I've never been in a car with so many back seat drivers in my life........
Look we are on our way home..........
I looked in my rear view mirror one more time to see if Bret's tour bus was trying to catch us and get us to go on tour with him........

Awwwww, well a girl can dream!

That's our Cincinnati/Poison Adventure........

Stay tuned as I chase Bret around my area of the country......

Blast from my Past.....

2008-08-19T20:36:00.000-04:00

For those of you who know me well know that I've been a HUGE Poison fan since I was around um, 12 or so....and I've always had a thing for Bret Michaels......it must be that bad boy thing...ya know I got it! lol
This is my friend Karen.....she mostly a Kid Rock fan.....but her favorite in Poison is CeCe.....I agree with her about him playing a mean guitar because he does....
This is Morgane.......isn't she adorable....
And Laura......she was big in the 80's.......ask her college class mates and Spug! lol hehe You love me!
Look it's me! You know me right? Or else you wouldn't be reading my blog....and if not drop a line and get to know me!
This is my sister in law Amy.....she's the best sister in law in the world and my favorite sister in law.....which I remind her whenever I'm drunk...and she always says BUT I'm your ONLY sister in Law.....she's still my favorite.....and she was going to drive me to the Blue Note to see Bret.....thanks Aimes!
I think she snuck this picture in during the concert...I bet you $10 she sent this to my brother in law!

See what a good sister in law does.....she got me this crotch shot of Bret! See what happened was....I had my camera, extra batteries, HUGE memory card and I was set and ready to go! NOPE....security got me....thing was you could take in cameras but mine was too big! Nuts I tell you! So lucky for us, my SIL had her blackberry with a camera on it! Wooot!We had really good seats! You can't tell that much in this picture, but we were in the second section back...20th row.....

I went ahead and posted most of the pics and didn't edit them out because hey it was a camera phone! lol

Did I tell you all it ROCKED!!!!!

We loved this t-shirt this guy had on!!!!!

Look there's CeCe and Bret!

This is me and Morgane....we were having a really good time! Um I think at that point I had lost count of my drinks!

Yeah at this point I had TOTALLY LOST count of my drinks!!!!
Laura was chilling.......I think this was during Dokken......

There is Cece, Bret and Bobby!!

The moon and the crowd........

Me and Laura.....um Amy "Laura, you are suppose to look at the camera not me" lol

Dang Bret looks really tall there....but I don't think he's much taller than me.....

Toes, toes toes......and just so Terri know I did not take this picture....it was Amy!! I'm the one in the pink! lol
Now Laura got the shot right! lol
OMG did I say they rocked!!!!!
Me and AMy......

My head.....Morgane's tongue!

After the concert while we were waiting for the crowd to thin out........the only dissapointment I had was that they didn't play "I won't forget you" or " Life Goes On"

Oh and there was even a fight!!! Bloody..I tell ya! And this woman hit the security guard with her flip flop! lol That was funny! That was all before Poison came on though!

Karen after the show on our way to the Truck!

Loading up girls!!!!!
Say cheese!!!
Amy....did I mention she's my FAVORITE sister in Law....she was our DD!
That's why I love her!
Me and Laura after the show!
Deer in Headlights? Um Actually Deer in Camera Flash! lol I love you Amy!

Me and Karen......oh I am so totally wasted in that picture!

That's my Poison Adventure!!!!! Hopefully I'll be able to show you all my Bret Michaels Band adventure if I decide to get tickets to LRS fest her in Louie on September 14th.....that is to be determined yet...September is a busy month, but they are filming the 1st episode of Rock of Love 3 here........

I'm getting ready to walk out the door!

2008-08-16T08:59:00.004-04:00

Yes ladies and gentleman, I have Poison concert tickets for tonight in Cincinnati......I have four friends ready and willing to go party down with me tonight.....what more could a girl ask for!

I've been mildly obsessed and/or had a thing for Bret Michaels.....since gosh I was 12 or maybe even earlier...that is dang scary! Anyway.....yeah no they sorta faded off when I got to concert age so I never really got to go see them...I rocked their music...watched things on tv...like the VH1 stuff....

Then ROCK OF LOVE hit....and I still have a thing for Bret.....not so much more the way he looks necessarily but there is just something very likable about him....
Could it be the arms???? Maybe.....the hair ...Nah....but I could live with it.....just kept the hat or bandana on Bretty poo!
I think it's those eyes......God help me...Blue eyes get me every time...WHY WHY WHY.....that just must be my one weakness blue eyes....

So anyhoo...me and my friends are leaving this morning , got a hotel room, are getting a cab...and we are going to go to this concert and party like we are 18 again!!! Except now we can legally buy alcohol!!!!! Woot Woot.......we'll come dragging home sometime tomorrow night...that is if we don't run off with the BAND!

A girl can dream can't she???

I've so been slacking!

2008-08-10T18:27:00.002-04:00

Yes Blogger friends, I have been majorly slacking! Though if you look at my history since starting this blog, this time of year has always been about slacking....heck, look at that I sound like I've been blogging forver! hehe
It's that time of year where we are doing last minute summer things, have a lot of activities to attend, and are trying to get ready to get back to school!
These are a few pics of one of the things the kids have been loving lately...or well Chasity and Aaron. Brie doesn't like to be the target of my picture taking much anymore. They love when James waters the garden, they get on their swimsuits and hit the sprinklers!!!
Anyway, I promise to try to be a little more diligent in at least blogging once a week for the next few weeks as wel finish up summer...I promise you will tire of me this winter once I start my hibernation!
Oh well , I'm off now.....I'm cooking up a storm tonight.....Home made chicken n' dumplins.....with green beans, corn and corn bread per James requests.......and I'm making some banana nut bread and pineapple upside down cake! Can we say I'm going to gain 10 pounds just tonight!

This is me Today...Crunch Time!

2008-07-26T11:57:00.002-04:00

Okay well it's a little blurry, but this is how I'm feeling! EEK! I told you all I would be regretting not staying up last night and getting the majority of things done and YES I am!!!!!!!!

I'm a big bundle of stress!! Frannie poo says I'm wonder woman and will pull it off like I always end up doing...and since such a wonderful lady has faith in me it's calmed my cranky butt down! But I sure do wish I had that cape and super powers....even a maid! Oh well.....

I'm off no more computer time for me til I get more accomplished.....so hopefully you'll hear from me tomorrow, telling you how wonderfully everything went and showing you some pictures!!!

Have a great Saturday!!!!

My Guitar Heroes.....

2008-07-25T23:13:00.000-04:00

Brienne rocks at this game....she really does. She's gotten to like level 8......and she just jams , she better than all of us!
You can't break her concentration!
I have so much to do and tonight here I sit blogging, looking at pictures of my kids....By 5 tomorrow I'm having 20 adults over for a let's get rid of our kids for the night and party like we use to party! Except we are going to be playing the Wii and corn hole! Woot! lol
Awww look at this little guitarist! He loves this game.....totally sucks at it, I can say that because I love him and he's my baby and well he doesn't even care to win, he just wants to jam on the guitar...he doesn't even look at the screen! lol

He just likes to look good ......and that he does...he looks like he really knows what he's doing!
I love my baby!!! He learned to swim tonight, I was ever so proud!
Now I'm about ready to go to bed and procrastinate even more of what I need to do...I'll be mad at myself in the morning for not cleaning my house tonight....especially since I have a lot to cook as well!!

James' Birthday

2008-07-24T23:01:00.002-04:00

James' birthday was last Thursday, so he took the day off and took Aaron and his dad fishing...........
And look who caught a fish!!!!
He was on cloud 9!
They had a good day fishing ....look at my little man!

Isn't she Lovely.....Isn't she wonderful Edited with Recipe

2008-07-23T22:28:00.004-04:00

Isn't she pretty... pretty .sad I know but it was so pretty I had to take a picture. I know I'm a dork!
Most people call this Seven Layer Salad or Pea Salad....
But because neither me nor James really have a thing for me, we substitute cauliflower!
It's super duper yummy and Brienne and Aaron love it too!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Just for Misty~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just a warning, I don't really measure things..

What you need

Head of Lettuce
Bacon
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Mayonaise
Cauliflower
Broccoli (for these I buy the pre-packaged small bags at Kroger, its just the right amount)
1 Red Onion

Cut up Cauliflower, broccoli, and red onion and lettuce.....cook bacon, of if you are like me, microwave it...I buy the Tyson pre-cooked...

Layer lettuce, onion, broccoli, shredded cheese, cauliflower, mayo and then bacon......Ta-dah!

I have also noticed some people but the bacon on before the mayo..so I don't think it really matters...

The day after the 4th.....

2008-07-19T12:57:00.003-04:00

We went back to my mom's to help them clean up but also because some of Grandpa's family was there still visiting and was leaving that day. This is my Grandpa and his sister Patsy...never mind the first picture of my grandpa, he was dosing and I woke him up! hehe
With my grandpa and his siblings even as they have gotten older I can still see that strong family resemblance to each other.

I was admiring the fruit trees over in my grandparents back yard, they have apples and pears, and the trees are FULL! I'm going to be shaking a few branches shortly I believe! I'm already tasting some apple dumplins!
Just one of the tractor loads of shrapnel left that we had to clean up!

Fireworks...at my Parents

2008-07-17T21:44:00.000-04:00

I'm slow I know, I've had a lot going on this week!
I honestly really need to get a tripod for next year, because my hands were so wobbly I didn't get a lot of great shots like I've gotten in the past.
I was pleased with a few of them. I think I took more video than I did pictures, because we were trying to remember certain ones. And I actually got to watch it more.
And I think this is the same picture but I'm too lazy tonight to remove it, instead I'm going to leave it and let you laugh at me! hehe

I thought this one was kind of cool!

And here are some videos.....don't turn your volume up too much just yet if you watch them, you will hear people screaming and ohhhing and awwwwing lol

My Parents 4th of July Party.......Part One

2008-07-10T20:02:00.019-04:00

Just a small preview of some of the fireworks, I'm still trying to do my best to take firework pictures and I haven't quit mastered it yet, but I have more to come, along with a few videos if I can get them to work.
This is my niece Savannah Rose........
Aaron's best friend Adam.....he lives next door to my parents
Aaron of course.....he was a wild child all day, I practically didn't see my children the whole day, except here and there, there were too many kids, and too many people....

Mr. Rylan Roo.......he's getting so big, I told Amy just wait til next year he will be out there running around with all those kids!
This is Uncle Larry(well on my mom's side)! You have to really know Larry to love Larry! He teases, annoys, but in such a way you just can't help but to like him, even though he can be a pain in the ass!

Chasity....I'm throwing in all their pics, cause there are so few of them that day compared to everyone else! lol I let her use my old camera for the day...I have yet to go through all the pics and see if I might do a post of her pictures on here! lol
This is Grant, he's adorable! He looks just like my cousin Travis when he was little, and a lot like my Uncle Hank too.

This my dad's brother Danny and my Aunt Sara.....
Tammi.....this is my cousin Dean's wife....out of the ones he's had, she's been the best! That sounded bad didn't it! lol

Randy! This is Adam's dad, and my parents neighbor Randy....he's been around forever, so really and truly there family is more like our family than just neighbors, Adam even calls my parents Aunt Rose and Uncle David.... He was grilling the burgers this day! And some of you guys from BOL probably remember me asking for prayers for him a while back when he was getting his kidney transplant....things have gone really really well, and everyone thanks God for that! And thanks for everyone's prayers.
My husband of course.....and that's my cousin Dean...double trouble that day....someone just kept handing James the beers....I'm pretty sure it was Larry (Dean's dad, my uncle) but I sorta think Dean might have had a hand in it too! lol
This is James' friend Jason and James brother Paul.....playing corn hole....that's where the guys spent most of the day.

This is Adam's mom Feledra and his little sister Reese......
My grandpa, my grandma's sister-in-law Edna, and my grandma

She has the prettiest blue eyes!

There is my Dad, with his patriotic shirt on! I bought him a Bass Pro Shop gift card for Father's Day so he could go buy more fishing stuff...he got this shirt and a hat and other stuff instead! I call him Mr. Patriotic! lol My Aunt Patty is in the background!! Let me say she makes the best chocolate fudge EVER, hands down!!!!!!! And most everything else she makes is awesome!

This is Rosalind, James cousin Melody's daughter, she's getting ready to be a big sister in September when her little brother Nathan joins the crew.

Brienne...........that's all I'm saying!

The kids had a blast on this thing! And actually for the most part were really good about taking turns and having a blast without getting nuts! Of course we had a few older kids there to help out. Brienne and her friend Sierra and then my cousin's kids Cody and Dalton...those boys are awesome with younger kids!
James cousin's Beth (Hi Beth!, see your picture is here so you should make a comment! lol) and Melody.

That's my cousin Travis (Grant's Dad) sitting next to my Aunt Donna and across from Larry and Tammi

James and Paul playing corn hole...again
Dean, and Melody's husband Kevin
Adam, getting ready to stand by for the fireworks!
Speaking of which, in one of my parents spare bedrooms (or well my old room, and now my girls room at my parents) we stored the fire works...........with lots of prayers that nothing set one off in the house! lol

Yeah I think I have a few pyromaniacs on my hands, but they put on a heck of a good show!
If you haven't noticed these are all raw, uncut photos...I just uploaded the majority of them...gives you a feel of the day...and please remember I was going heavy on the Amaretto sours, and pretty light on food! lol

My Sister in Law(though she is more like a sister) Amy, and my Mother in Law
My Aunt Patty and my mom's very good friend Irma who I love to death, she's so funny...seriously discussing dessert....
Look at the little grin! Not AMY! lol I'm talking about Rye-Rye
Loading up the fireworks to transport to the launching pad.

Okay there is a story behind this picture! Me and my friend Kristie are on my parents front porch when this guy starts walking up....I don't know this person, but that's not uncommon for my parents cookout's...then I noticed he came out of this car.....as my husband walks up I'm like James the news is here...he goes yeah they are broadcasting...I'm like what?? Our fireworks are good but I don't know that they are that good! lol Turns out the Sports guy at Fox 41 News here locally is my cousin Dean's friend....so he came to party! Though he told my Uncle next year since this was so good he might just bring his camera! lol

Rylan getting a little foot ball before the fireworks!

The firebugs doing some Roman Candles as an fireworks appetizer!

These are just pictures of the crowd watching the fireworks!

After the madness people started leaving!!! Look Kristie there you are!!! lol
This is the one and only picture of me......horrible horrible horrible....I have no make up on, my hair started curling from the heat...I am beat, tired, about ready for bed and had so much to drink I was really wanting some white castles! lol James has that same expression on his face every year after the fireworks....I call it....Madness! lol

Pooped.......

2008-07-06T22:03:00.003-04:00

I am absolutely worn completely out! I crawled into bed around 2 this morning I believe after the party at my parents house. I felt like I was non-stop all day, until the fireworks started then I got to sit for a while. I know my mother was worn out, but I think she had a good time too.....everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves.....I felt bad like I didn't get to mingle with everyone but there were so many more people this year, and I tried, but I felt like I was getting pulled so many ways.....
So anyway I'm too tired to put up all the pictures from the night, I might try to do that Tuesday night once the kids head to Mamaw's......today we relaxed! I threw Pioneer Woman's Pot Roast in the Oven (a must try if you haven't already) and just let it cook , we rode out to my parents to pick up everything we had been taking out there all week and to see if there was anything we could do.....so I took some pictures of some of my mom's flowers.

I've been messing with my camera more lately , trying to figure out how to use more of the settings, and I'm actually starting to read the book, honestly and truly I wish I had read the book that went to a camera years ago! I could have been taking better pictures! Though on the blueish purple flower up above I wish I had picked the dead ones off first before I took the picture.
Anyhoo.....I think I'm just going to finish sipping on my home-made chocolate shake that James made me and put on my jammies and head to bed! I'm positive I'm going to have a long day at work tomorrow, we have two docs coming back off of vacation, and it was a three day weekend for all and a four day weekend for some, so we have a lot of catching up to do!
And here I'll leave you with a little teaser......

Happy 4th of July!!!

2008-07-04T11:54:00.005-04:00

It's the 4th of July!! This is one of my favorite Holiday's! It's really close to Christmas for me, except I like Christmas better because it more a season and not just 1 day....but still it's very close.
And we are all about the fireworks.....this is a little one James set off in our back yard the other night....this is like a baby one compared to the ones he will be doing tomorrow!
My parents have a HUGE 4th of July party every year...this year I think we have grown the biggest we have ever been, we have around 120-130 people who have RSVP'd, and I honestly have lost count! Every time I call my mother, she goes I have 5 more people. I had to honestly ask her yesterday..Mom who else could there possibly be??? lol But my mother is thriving on this and loves to cook for a big crowd so she's in her element today...doing all her prep work!

Yeah I know today is the 4th, but they moved it to tomorrow the 5th because we have a bunch of people coming in from out of town, and we wanted to give them travel time!
And I have a bunch of stuff to make today as well.......so I'll be spending a lot time in the kitchen!
I think we are going to grill out tonight at home and set off a few little fireworks like this one for the kids and watch neighbors fire works.....cause all of the big ones have already been shipped out to my parents house.

See these......these are the Big un's........These were purchased after careful internet research and watching of umpteen videos or different fireworks. My husband tells me in the middle of the Phantom fireworks store and I quote " Is it bad that I like buying fireworks more than Jordan's" FEAR, fear hit me.....Jordan's are his obsession...I've never met a man who loves shoes like my husband...and every time a new pair of Jordan's comes out he has to have them....so a fireworks obsession made me clutch the checkbook! This cannot be good. I LOVE watching fireworks...so I love the big ones....and now he's obsessed....um who is going to reign us in! We NEVER have the same addictions that's how we balance each other out!
Well.......................................
This was our first trip there!! lol But then we made a second trip.............

In the end.....after I figured up everything that we spent, everything my brother in law spent....and all the free stuff this cool guy at the fireworks place hooked us up with we have over $2400 worth of fireworks!!! (Keep in mind fireworks were buy one get one free) And that's not counting what other people bring to my parents house!
So I'm really looking forward to tomorrow!!!!!

Uncle Tommy's 60th Birthday Party

2008-07-03T10:14:00.008-04:00

Last Saturday we went to my mom's brother's 60th birthday party. And we had a really nice time, the kids had a blast!

See that's them up above having a blast....well 2 of them, Brie's getting to the point where she just kind of hangs with the grown ups.....
That's my Aunt Betty (my mom's sister in law), Aunt Margaret(mom's sister, and Aunt Darlene (another of mom's sisters)
Here you have my crazy Aunt Patty, my mom, and my cousin Travis' girlfriend Kendra, she's pregnant...it's a girl! Also see the girl standing up behind my mom, that's my cousin Kim...she's pregnant too, but that baby is a surprise! I love the fact that no matter which side of the family I'm around people are having new babies...keeps my missing new babies away! lol
That's my Uncle Hank and my dad.....they were having a discussion on why my Uncle Tommy has screwdrivers stuck in the ceiling of his porch....the answer was because bees or wasps were burrowing or something...
See kid having fun again! lol
There is part of Chasity, my mom hidden behind a cup, my Aunt Donna (another of my mom's sisters) and Aunt Patty again!
Here are Chasity and Aaron...First I love these pictures because they are plotting together! And secondly because well their cute, and their mine! They are plotting to go ask Uncle Tommy if they can go swimming!
Chasity is saying see he's right there, Aaron go ask him....
If you note my kids are all color coordinated this day....my mother has this thing about color coordinating them I guess(they had spent the night before with her)....and I think the only thing that matches for all three are these outfits, because she put them on them a few weeks back when they went to a birthday party!
Here are all the kids in the pool! Hmm I don't know if I can get their names right....so I'm not going to try...some are like my third cousins...

Uncle Tommy spent some time opening presents......
He's a huge Yankee's fan, so he got a lot of Yankee's stuff...I personally loved this clock, I thought it was cool. in the bottom was 2 shelves with little Yankee's memorabilia that sat on the shelfs!
Aaron kept wanting to know who the Green man was on Uncle Tommy's cake. And now since the cake says David would probably be a good time to explain our family's use of names...
Apparently in my mom's nobody is called by their right name....take my Uncle Sonny who recently passed away..his name was Robert Andrew....but everybody knew him in the family as Sonny...that's what everyone called him. It was weird at his funeral when people from their church in the new town they lived in called him Bob...I'd never heard anyone call him that before. Bobby was his son....not him. Tommy's real name is David Thomas....but has been called Tommy since he was a baby or kid or something...that's what I've always known him as. But to his immediate family...his wife and her family...he's always been David....so that's why the cake says David.....I'll go ahead and throw in my Uncle Hank too that you saw in a picture above...his name is Morris K (K-stand for nothing it's just an initial, God bless my Granny Gunn, Hank was the baby, I'm thinking she started running out of names) according to my mom Hank didn't even know his real name was Morris til he started school.....because when he was born my Uncle Sonny said Morris is no name for a little boy.....I'm calling him Hank...so he's been Hank since then.......oddly enough my mom's other brother Kenny....that's his first name..well Kenneth..so I'm not sure why he didn't get another name...but oh well cuts down on confusion!
Look it's me........the girls wanted to take turns taking my picture....so here I am out from behind the camera...don't be scared!

Look at my little monkey's!!!!! I love this picture!

Me again........

I'm not mad...I think she caught me off guard I was listening to my Aunt Mary Anne I believe....or getting ready to talk....hmm not sure

Menace to Society!

2008-06-29T21:37:00.000-04:00

Yeah she is still a menace to my society, well my house....and now we are looking for a home for her. I'm really sad about it...I mean I've been crying almost every night over it, agonizing trying to figure something else out.
She's a smart dog, and beautiful and I do dearly love her........but when I talked about getting a dog I talked about rescuing one from the Humane Society or a rescue group, I wanted an older one already trained. James brought home the puppy. But the problem with that is James is never home, and after working most weeks 7 days a week 12 hour days, it's me that's having to take care of her and I can't handle her. And I'm very fearful that she is going to knock one of my parents down, and that could be serious business after their recent surgeries. And my parents are at my home at least 5 days a week watching my kids most weeks. So it's not fair to keep her crated when they are here or stuck in the back yard.

In the end I know I'm doing the right think trying to find her a good home, where she can thrive as well as the family or person she is with, but I also feel like such a failure because this is the dog Chasity has always wanted, though she's not the least bit upset about it, and I can't control her and I can't make this work for my child, for the family.

On the upside is that once I do find a home for Licorice, my parents want us to dog share. They have a poodle about 2 that doesn't jump and is trained well, problem is they are here a lot and have been talking about how they really weren't home enough for her, but my kids love her so they were holding on...so this will solve two problems and I'm hoping work out for the best for both dogs, and us. Maybe we can start a new trend too, a dogshare program for busy families.

My Blah's

2008-06-25T17:37:00.004-04:00

I'm feeling kind of Blah today, I called in sick, this morning was horrible, I swear I was in more pain than when I was in labor with all three of my children combined. It was horrible and the nausea....I'm not sure if it was a bug, my gallbladder, or what but it was not fun. I never call into work and I hate it. But I couldn't even stand up straight to get in the shower, I didn't know how I was going to drive! By Noon I kept down a bowl of chicken noodle soup. And now I'm feeling 100% better. I hope I never experience that again! Now to combat my blah's, I wanted to post pretty pictures today!

I've been messing with the different setting on my camera , I've had it since Christmas but I'm just now getting bold enough to try different settings beside AUTO , hehe
I don't remember which setting was which, One was Auto, One was portrait, but I like this one the best, it shows much more detail.

I know this one was auto......
And this one was portrait.....so vibrant! These are my favorite flowers and I'm horrible about killing them, well I always forget to break off the dead blooms so they will grow back! Actually I'll tell you my gardening ignorance I never knew that they would!!! But I didn't like the dead looking blooms so I broke them off, and Voila...I have new ones! I love Gerbera daisies!

So now I'm going to try it with the lilies and see if it does the same! lol

Little Swimmers

2008-06-23T07:42:00.000-04:00

Just some shots from one of our swimming adventures!

Wii Fever..........

2008-06-22T11:56:00.003-04:00

Yep.....we have it! I know there are mom's out there who are firm believer's that Video Games rot your brain...well apparently I'm not one of them....I'm a moderation mom...everything in moderation is fine with me...maybe it's because I grew up with a Nintendo in my bedroom. That didn't mean I vegged in front of it all the time...yeah a few hours a week, but I still lived outside....well except on rainy days or after dark.
So when we had a Wii party for New Years with James' best friend Wii...I caught the Wii fever.....the best thing I liked about this gaming system is that you have to move for most of the games, you don't just sit on your butt!! Which is perfect for my one child who doesn't like to move! And then Wii fit came out and I had to have it!
Now on some Friday nights when we are being lazy at home instead of vegging on the couch with a movie or me on the computer we have bowling tournaments!!!!
These pictures are from one such tournament......I am the master bowling and I never LET my kids win....is that a mean mom??

I guess that's her victory dance!! lol I think she got a strike!!

Lazy Friday Night...

2008-06-21T15:23:00.007-04:00

Since my blood pressure has been doing a number on me this week....and especially right this moment...I'm not at my best...anyway we decided a lazy weekend was what we needed this weekend. So last night we didn't do a lot, me and James sat on the front porch because it was so nice out and watched the kids play and ride their bikes.
Aaron just recently learned to ride two wheelin' and thinks he's the shiznit! It's look how fast I can go, look at this , look at that...and he's pretty darn good!
Brienne....well it's a learning process...part of it is her fear of everything, her fear of getting hurt.....I have never had this fear so I have no clue how to help her get over her fear of everything....

She automatically poses for me anymore......I think if she ever becomes famous she won't be bothered by camera's being around her all the time.

Aaron......I just don't know why I love this picture so much! I think it's because he reminds me so much of his daddy it's not funny watching him standing there!

Speaking of Daddy he thought to right way to end the night would to be trying to do tricks he hasn't done in years on Chasity's bike....

Yeah I was cringing the whole time I just got the ER bill from his last visit there......

Father's Day in Pictures

2008-06-19T20:55:00.014-04:00

I was having trouble getting pictures to load the other night so I didn't get this up when I wanted to. Dang Blogger! We had dinner with everyone at my parents house for Father's day since I had everyone at my house for Mother's Day. James family came as well...
This is pretty much what James did all day! lol
James dad with the kids.....
Savannah Rose.....my niece.....she's getting so big!

My dad up in the inflatable water slide/pool he got for the kids.....yep oh look it's my faded children on his shirt....I think he's wore that one out just a bit! lol

Awww look how cute! Doesn't that just make you want another baby!! Awww so sweet!

Yeah over it.....I love my kids, wouldn't trade them for the world, but I don't want to start over again.... **Note to self , borrow Rylan for a few hours next week**
My brother in law....Paul
Paul, My Sister in Law, Amy, James' Dad and James
Insert James mom next to James on the left, and my mom on the right....

My aunt Sara popped up too, hadn't seen her in a while.....so it was a happy surprise!
Mr GQ....all cool.......hmmm hey baby...umm next pic!
Pap, that's my Pap, I love this man, he's the sweetest man in the whole wide world....
I found him a bluebird wind chime for Father's day.....I can never decide what to get him, and when I saw it it reminded of when I was little he always drew me the pretties bluebirds...complete with worm in mouth...and now he draws those for my kids...so I thought it would be nice to put on his deck.

Of course Pap grabbed James and my Uncle Danny to go on a tour of his tomato plants and fruit trees! He's well aged but he gets around....I use to love love love his gardens....how I miss that....I remember as a child I'd sit on our back porch with my grandma and snap green beans, or help can....I would love to do that again....(My grandparents live on the acre next to my parents...just for those that don't know...)

I just thought this picture was cool! But that's just me....I like how the water looks!

This is Adam, he's making his debut on my blog! This is Aaron's best friend!

Look at my little man's farmer's tan! It's funny cause my dad and James I think have the same one! lol

Princess PixieTude Goes Swimming

2008-06-16T22:52:00.000-04:00

Isn't she just the most beautiful thing! Yeah I know I'm partial, but I'm her mother I'm required to be! I just love this picture of her!
She loves the water, just loves it, swimming is one of her favorite things to do.....I honestly find myself seeing so much of me as a child in here...I lived in the pool from the time we opened it in the spring til we closed it for winter....I was ALWAYS in it!! I miss that!

She just lets me photograph her non-stop...sometimes she cheeses, sometimes it's a simple smile, sometimes she goes about her business not really paying attention I'm there...she's a great subject to photograph!
There were taking about two weeks ago, and if you saw her now that farmer's tan is almost gone!! I want her skin tone....she tans so easy, is a pretty bronze color...I want that naturally! lol

Rylan Roo

2008-06-15T23:23:00.000-04:00

Isn't he a cutie! For those that don't know this is my nephew..........and I've gotten to spend more time with him the last two weekend! He's growing up so fast!!
Just look at that sweet little smile!!!!! I love my niece with all my heart, and I'd never treat either of them differently...but I don't know if it's because he's so little of if it's because he's my godson that he just tugs a little bit more at my heart....does that sound bad??
I mean I'd never EVER play favorites, cause I can't STAND when people play favorites with kids....maybe it's just cause he's still so sweet and innocent and four year olds tend to disillusion us! lol
Nope, I'm not going to do it, you can't make me smile this time!!
Awwwww just look at that sweet little face
And that little grin!!!!!

Heartwarming

2008-06-14T23:12:00.000-04:00

I don't know why I find this set of just a few random shots of my kids just heartwarming, but I do! I don't know if it was the lighting in them or what.....but tonight I just find these beautiful...

Calistoga Splash Park........

2008-06-13T17:40:00.005-04:00

Our Zoo added this cool splash park .....
Though I'm not sure if Aaron loved it 100% after all it messed up his hair.......
He really really struggled with this for quite a while, but finally the child in him won...and he started really enjoying the splash park....
Here he is pumping water!!!
Him and Zada running under the dumping buckets........

He got all worn out I guess and needed to take a break!!!
Look at my little bikini babe.....she better enjoy it while her dad let's her wear them...lol
That's Brienne......I think she was stearing clear of me and my camera...mostly I got her back that day!
Except here....can't you feel the sisterly love!!! Feel it I say , feel the love....

My girls decided not to run under the dumping buckets, but to rather lay under them........hmm only my children!!
Look at Zada Grace....I just love this picture......**Note to self, email to Laura**

There it is!!!!

2008-06-12T22:52:00.002-04:00

The side I have to hide and sneak to capture on film!!!!! I guess now you see the reason why when people ask me if he ever smiles that it puzzles me? What do you mean....I see him smile all the time.....but I guess it's more people who see him in pictures who don't get to see him smile!!!

But even if he smiles...he is still always always up to no good!!!!! EEK!!!! James you CANNOT shoot my camera!!!!!!! YOU will have to buy me a new one...Dang he says as he then unexpectingly takes out our first born with the water gun.......smart man!!!
Yep, you guessed it, my big baby got worn out swimming too!!!! Awww it's okay just rest and sip on your juice pouch!!!

Farmer's Market!

2008-06-11T22:58:00.005-04:00

I have finally found Farmer's Market's!!! I've been looking for them in my city for a bit, and had no clue there were as many as there are. There aren't any in my neighborhood, but it only takes me about 15 minutes to get to them!
I had the kids with me the first Saturday I went and my friend Laura and her daughter Zada went too~ The kids got to pet chicken! They thought that was really neat!
See there is Aaron's petting the chicken!

This particular day they had face painting, so all the kids had to get their face painted....Chasity of course picks a dog!
Zada got a pretty little butterfly!!
Aaron wanted the sun!!

Brienne got a flower...but I didn't realize til now I didn't get a close up of it!

These were my finds for the day!!! I got tomatoes , cucumber, strawberries, lettuce and Bison hamburger! And let me tell you Bison hamburgers are the best hamburgers that I have ever ate, and very very low in calorie!!! They rock!! SO much that I got the Bison steaks this week and they were just as good!!
Look at those strawberries!!! Yummy Yummy Yummy , they were delicious in Strawberry Margarita's!!!
I made an awesome salad out of this Romaine lettuce....it was yummy tooo!!!
And James just loved the green onions.....he said they were the best he ever ate!!!

Sorry if I mistyped...James worked a double tonight so I was home alone (Kids are at my parent's) so I indulged in a bottle of wine...and since I haven't ate since lunch I'm pretty darn tipsy!!!

Hope everyone's been having a good "summer" so far!!!!

Can't believe

2008-06-10T07:45:00.003-04:00

It's been over a week since I posted! And I have a lot of pictures to post! I promise to try and get something up tonight!! I'm just trying not to be a slug and sit all night at the computer, especially since the kids aren't home!

Phil and Lil....or that's what I'm calling them.

2008-06-02T22:01:00.000-04:00

Yes the camel is showing her teeth.....I don't really know if it's a her....I just like to think it is, so I named her Lil......
Then you have Phil....who just sits there not blinking patiently while Lil whispers sweet nothings in his ear....
Awwwwww Baby give me a big kiss.................
And then we can snuggle Phil...........
Meanwhile....Phil is thinking does this chick EVER shut up?????
Nope don't think that she does......
God just take me now, take me now I say!!

**Disclaimer----I have had quite a few frozen margarita's!!! Kids are are mamaw's and papaw's!

Children's Train Garden

2008-06-01T22:08:00.000-04:00

More Zoo pictures I know! lol The children's train garden is in the Islands exhibits at the zoo and it's one of my favorite places, not only do they have the train in the middle of it, but it's also where the penguins are! The kids love it too, they love the different bronze sculptures at the zoo, and love to have their pictures taken on them....this is the same garden that houses LuLu the pot bellied pig that you saw pictures of one of my children perched upon yesterday!
It's just so neat to sit and watch these trains go by, and it's totally surrounded by bamboo so everything is always very shaded and nice and cool.

The Louisville Zoo....Memorial Weekend

2008-05-31T23:35:00.010-04:00

I adore this family picture!!! I think I might even have to get this blown up and framed!!

So Last Sunday we decided to take the kids to the zoo...we hadn't been since last fall.....I was so ready to go to the zoo and try out my camera!!!

We had a blast!!!! I'll have to tell you a story about these two at a later time! They were an interesting pair of camels!

Look it's baby Scotty who just turned a year old recently!!!!
And of course my little gorillas!!! Last year I had a very similar pose as the main picture on my blog! My how they have grown up in just a year!

WOW~ These are few and far between! And once in a while I do get to get out from behind the camera!

Lulu, the pot bellied pig....is OUR favorite statue in the zoo!!! Everyone has to visit her before we can leave!! (well except James , he thinks were nuts) She's just so cute!!!

Mother's Day...revisited

2008-05-28T22:19:00.000-04:00

Yeah I'm a little bit late posting Mother's Day pictures, but things have been a little bit busy with the end of the school year and all. So I'm just now getting around to it.
Rylan boo...isn't he getting so big...and too cute! He cracks me up with his huge smiles...his smiles are almost bigger than him!!
Me and Chas...resting on the couch....yes I started with my whine kind of early...but it was my day...notice my sun-burn from Derby was still really bright! lol

Brienne and her Webkinz mouse McKenzie that she got for her birthday!!

Look at my chocolate cake boy!!!! He still looks like a shell-less turle!

My mom, I packed her with a care package to take home! She hates surprise photos...SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chasity and my niece Savannah are looking at baby pictures of Chasity's.......the kids love to do this...

I think I need to start fixing red eyes! lol

It was overall a really pleasant day, James got Famous Dave's BBQ, and fixed a bunch of sides to go with them...it was rather yummy.......and we just spent it with both sets of our parents and my BIL and SIL......it was a nice day.

***DISCLAIMER......Don't take a lot of pictures after having several glasses of wine****

Chasity and Licorice

2008-05-27T22:21:00.000-04:00

Hasn't she gotten so big!!!!! To be honest we have though lately about getting rid of her.
But this little girl right here would be heart broken.....I think we need a really good obedience class and another year to get the biggest part of the puppy out of her.
She's beautiful and she's smart, but maybe it's just that I don't know how to control her....and I'm the one doing most of the training. I don't have any help from James.
Plus she's just so darn cute and lovable and I can't help but love her to pieces....so we shall see......

My Little Big Man

2008-05-26T21:45:00.004-04:00

Aaron though so little is turning into a little man right before my very eyes.....I don't know if it's because he's my only boy or if it's because he's my baby....but there is just something so different about watching him as he grows up....it's exciting but oh so sad as well!
Yep you guessed it ladies he's shaving.....he's lathering up! Santa had brought him his own little cars bath set at Christmas time...had a pretend razor, shaving mirror, shampoo, bath soap, hair gel in it...and he loved it! So when I found spider man sets after Christmas on clearance I thought ahead to Easter!
His spider man one came with a razor, shaving cream, hair gel, shaving brush, toothbrush , comb, a little bag to carry it all in, and he does...he'll carry it back and forth to my parents house and then back home again!
Just look at that sweet little face!!
And watching him do it, it's just like watching a grown man shave, he does it all right!
It's just too adorable to watch....of course I am partial!
Oh watch it! lol
And then I was discovered hiding around the corner of the door....oh baby you missed a few spots!!

I'm in Need of Funky Pillows

2008-05-20T20:57:00.000-04:00

I found this funky little rug at Walmart actually for the girls room! I felt like I needed to break up the color. There bed spreads were really worn and I had a mishap with one when I tried to wash it...so I stumbled upon two twin comforters in the same green as their walls.......on clearance...so I got those...then it seemed like there was too much green......

So when I found this rug, I thought the blue matched the center of their daisies on their walls perfectly. And the other colors helped break up some of the green.......But now I feel like I need some funky little pillows for their beds to finish it off.......I wish I could find some with the same material as the rug...or at least the same color scheme!

If anyone has seen anything speak now or forever hold your peace...Thanks!!

Flowers, Flowers and More Flowers

2008-05-19T21:01:00.000-04:00

I love to get my yard looking good once all the snow and frost and bad weather has finally left! I love spring for this reason. To me it always looks so dreary until everything is green and blooming! That's when I love to be outside!

We use to have a Bradford Pear tree in this bed.....actually we made the bed around it and a planted a few little flowers in it each year.....well then one 4th of July....after an excellent day we came home to find our tree all in our front yard and in our neighbors driveway! Poor little Pear tree had to be taken totally down, though my husband never removed the stump! So last summer I decided I was planting creeping phlox to cover it all up! They have really grown alot....and already bloomed this year! They were so pretty , I don't think I got a picture though.

This was the side of our house, we hadn't really done anything with it....I planted a Hosta there last fall when I thinned out my other ones, and I also transplanted Iris's from my mom's house along the side of the house. This year though we decided to go ahead and make it another flower bed. We are trying to really get the front of the house done this year, cause next year we need to concentrate on the back yard once we get our patio poured.
This is the after product of my husbands hard labor putting in the bricks!
Oops....we were 1 bag of mulch short!!! We'll fix that!!

That's the end of my little slide show of flowers!!! I'm sure I'll bore you all more throughout the summer as they grow and different things bloom....but that's it for now!

Double Digits.......Brienne turns 1-0!!!

2008-05-18T11:31:00.006-04:00

This year Brienne decided that she didn't want to have her usual friends and family big birthday party that I've done for the kids since they breathed their first breath of air.....she's growing up on me! She decided she wanted me to take her and her friends to paint at the Paint Spot and then out to eat.
Well as it turned out only one friend was able to go...we invited last minute because Brienne had been so sick...so Brienne decided that her brother and sister could tag along, and then my aunt and mom came as well!
Aaron had an absolute ball! He was in seventh heaven and told me he wanted to be an artist when he grew up so he could paint all the time!

It just made me get all warm and fuzzy inside watching him paint!!!

Chasity kept getting pain on her nose and she never even knew it! Even as I snapped away! I guess she's so use to me and my camera by now she thinks nothing of it!
This is Aaron with his finished Strawberry ice cream cone (his favorite), we had to leave the pieces there to be glazed and fired, but I will pick them up next Friday and I'll take new pics and post them so you guys can see the finished product!
Chasity with Pengu....Pengu is her webkins Penquin that she is obsessed with!!!
Brienne's finished product was a flower trinket box......for her to put all her earrings in.
After the fun and mess of painting Brienne decided she wanted to go to O'Charley's for dinner......and the kids were starving! This picture is Aaron and Chasity with my Aunt Sara.
This is Brienne and her friend Hannah
Me and my Mom!

It turned out to be a really nice night and Brienne had a really good time!!!!

Happy Birthday my Big Baby Girl!!!!

Outdoors....Oh how I love thee!

2008-05-17T13:03:00.004-04:00

One of my favorite things to do when it's nice outside, is to get the kids outside and tag along with my camera....and just let them be....I love watching them through my camera lense...maybe because what I capture will never go away...I'll have that...even when they grow up and go out on their own...I'll always have their child hood captured in pictures! It's also a reason I haven't blogged much. I have a ton of pictures to share, I just have been outside everyday when I get home from work and then too pooped to get on the computer.

This here is my coveted spot! I loved this little place...when we bought the house they people living here before had a garden bench and flowers all over this concrete spot, and I so want to do that myself....but for the last few years I've given it up to the kids and their play house....but maybe, just maybe next year they will be big enough that they will let me get rid of the playhouse...though I'm sure it will require a gift of another toy , but then I can get my little private garden area!

I was trying really hard to figure out this nest.....I have not seen anything in it, but I keep watching and waiting hoping I can figure out what is nesting.

This monstracity is our shed...I detest this shed, and we need to replace it...please ignore our storm damage of limbs and branches, we have not made the trek out to my parents house with them yet...dad burns them for bon fires...and with 4th of July coming up we stocking up!
This little biride obviously liked our tilled section of garden....but let me warn you birdie....you better leave my veggies alone when they get planted...or we will have a chat! lol

Churchill Downs.....Let Me Take You To the Derby Part III

2008-05-10T00:08:00.004-04:00

I've just decided to let the beauty of the buildings at Churchill Downs be my blog today! I told James I want to go back in the next few weeks when it's not so crowded and get some better shots.....I just love things that are a part of history!

Our Annual Tradition......Let Me Take you To the Derby Part II

2008-05-06T19:53:00.004-04:00

This is my husband in his element! Well except tile......this is like Christmas to him! He hardly ever takes off work, but come Derby week....well you all remember the shirt....he has no desire and becomes part of the track. Seriously I hardly see him from Thursday morning til Saturday morning. Though I am on call for designated driver duties!!
Every year we end up at the In Field with the same group of people! Lil' Larry being one of them. I honestly have known Larry longer than I've known my husband...and he's just like one of the family...he's always around...my kids tease him like he's a sibling...it's nuts... Larry is a serial partier.....but you just can't help but love him.....he's a good guy and fun to be around...doesn't start drama...but just likes to have a good time!

Um Larry, did you miss Mark's head up in the corner.....and no you can't borrow my camera to go take boobie shots!

Here is Larry......and James best friend Mark....and his girlfriend Tara....she's been part of the crew the last three years....
The only people missing this year were my brother in law and sister in law Paul and Amy......but they were unable to get a babysitter this year....but this is the first year in 5 years they haven't been there~ Next year people....HELLO it's the first Saturday in May plan ahead!

This was right after the Big Race......we'd headed out of the infield and were in the Paddock area at this time......you can already see my sun burn....not the best pic of me but I like how James is smiling in it...if I couldn't see his hand in the picture I would swear that's when it was ohhhh nevermind! lol
And then our hike back to Berry Blvd........It wasn't too bad only about 7 blocks to hike back to the car. And my husband handles it so well with all our gear in tow! Uh, I was handling the camera! hehe :P

Infield Madness....Let me take you to the Derby Part I

2008-05-05T22:58:00.004-04:00

I am an avid people watcher! Some might find it odd, but I love to get me a spot and lounge in my chair and have a few drinks and watch people!!! And there is no better place for a people watcher than the In Field at the Kentucky Derby!!!
Now mind you a lot of these pictures were taken while I was intoxicated, so they are not of the best quality....but it's the subjects that make the pictures!!! Plus sometimes when you have moving targets and you aren't really close and trying to use your zoom from your chair your husband has you firmly planted in for your own safety while he places your bets and gets your drinks can get a little bit tricky!

This man in the wedding dress sat a few feet away from us, he was cracking me up!!

I have always been very puzzled and perplexed as to why you go dress up to do Derby in the In Field....dressing up is for the grand stands and box seats and millionaire's row......though it makes for good amusement when this chick and her three friends all in dresses, heels and hats, are out in the muddy field with the wind blowing to high heavens trying to lay out their tarp and keep their heels from sinking and their hats on there heads! lol People kept getting in my way so I couldn't get the funnier shots...
Even nuns have to party It's Derby people!!!!
I like this picture....not sure why.......it's a random thing!
I swear on a normal day this is NOT how people dress in Kentucky!!!! But anything goes!
Look it's Fred Flinstone! He even knows how to party Derby Style!!!!!

I acutally thought these hats were pretty cool!
Um....I don't think the Colonel had dark hair?

The following pictures I did not take, but they were things I saw in the infield and wanted to share! So I borrowed them from my local papers website.....

This dude was part of about a 10 guy crew for Breast Cancer awareness! They all had on pink scrubs and even had their inflatable furniture set up.....this area was definitely not G nor R...more like X or P for the Porn section....and honey I'm not just talking some boobs! I would honestly blush if I told you what exactly happened on that inflatable couch.....which was being video taped and watched by hundreds and hundreds...even the cops gave their binoculars a work out! I think what happened was actually illegal.... I just honestly hope the girl wasn't from Louisville and pity her mother when it shows up on YouTube!

Kentucky Derby LetDown

2008-05-04T15:23:00.007-04:00

That's the day after! Everything is so hyped up in Louisville for a good solid month before Derby Day....and then the big day hits......and then it's all over...and what's left??? What's to look forward too....well today it a do nothing day....then we start planning for Derby 09'.

Next year I want box seats!!!! My husband has already promised.....we normally do in field...and it's fun, it's a blast, you have to do infield at least once to say you did it , and honestly it's not bad......but I feel that you have to at least do box seats once too! Next year I want to get dressed up ( maybe no hat, I'm just not a hat person) and do it dressy style! lol So then maybe I won't be so sunburned and windburned that I am miserable the next day!

My picks did come in this year!! I had Big Brown, Eight Belle's and Pyro in an exacta box.....I was so excited! I never get it right, my horses are usually still running. This year I couldn't make up my mind, I always just pick one horse and put my money to win on that....but I had four names in my head that I couldn't get out.....for various different reasons...and now I just wish I had put more money on it! hehe....oh well to me Derby is not about the money!! I mean look at that Big Brown monster up above....he's beautiful, he's strong, he's gorgeous.

By the way these are not my pictures, I borrowed them from the local paper, I was no where near close enough to get these types of pictures! But I will post my pictures coming this week!

On a sad note, the Kentucky Derby had it's first fatality of a horse in over 41 years, though technically it didn't happen during the Derby....Eight Belle's in all her filly glory....broke both her ankles right after the race and had to be euthanized right on the track. For Larry Jones, her trainer, it was like loosing a family member, for her considers his horses part of the family. It was a sad day and somber day for this pretty little filly who ran the race of her life.

Aaron......

2008-04-30T07:24:00.000-04:00

The other day while running my fever, I did snap a few pics, I was heading to my back door to check on Aaron because James came in to go to the restroom, when I got to my back door, the little turd was starting to climb on the playhouse, which he knows he's not suppose to do...
He's lucky he got down before I said anything.... and then snapped a few pics cause he just looked so darn cute wearing James' hard hat!

Oh how I love my baby Bob!!!

Wonder where she gets it?

2008-04-29T07:14:00.000-04:00

Of course this was the kids addiction that they now have mommy and mamaw hooked on! Webkinz......
You can still see her little chicklet tooth in this picture! It finally fell out.....these pictures are from back around Easter.....