Yeah,

he is going to be so mad at me when he is older, but he is the cutest spider I have ever seen!

Orren the scary spider

OK so for the things we do to babies, we should be ashamed. I was laughing for 10 minutes when he started totting around in this costume! I had to share! I have a lot more video, I will add more on a day we need a laugh. Good night!

Happy Halloween!

WOW what a Halloween we have had! Whew, so tired!

We started the morning off with orange iced cinnamon rolls with black bat sprinkles. Green Milk, black grits and snakes (sliced strips of bacon).

Finally the time came to start decorating the outside!

When darkness fell it looked much spookier! The strobe lights were so cool and we got lots of compliments! That is a floating hand in the goldfish bowl!

Our children with our sweet friends, the Hayes boys!

Olivia the Gothic maiden and Orren the spider!

We have a ghost!

Hee Hee! Well, at least it is a friendly ghost. Orren has been running around all morning with a shirt over his face saying..... ooooooooooooo.......ooooooooooooooo.......ooooooooooo! Then he dies laughing! Guess this is what happens when you have an older sibling. She has been teaching him lots of funny things, but this was too cute. I called my Mother this morning just so she could hear him.

I called and got to talk to my little brother last night! (Joe says I can't call him my little brother b/c he is like 6' 3" and over 30 years old, I say he is my little brother until the day I leave this Earth b/c that is what we Bama Belles do!) Anyway, I was so excited to hear his voice and talk with him. He and Katy are so busy an I cherish any time at all! They are doing super. They just got home from a scuba diving trip to the Caribbean. I have mentioned before that they are just amazing, active, adventurous folks! We will get to see them for New Year's. (Something I will talk more about closer to time.) I love you Jarrod!

Tonight is our costume party. The children are so excited I think they might come out of their skin! I am baking some little "Ghosts" biscuits to serve with pumpkin butter as our dish of the evening. I cannot wait to see everyone and all the costumes!

Tomorrow night is SPOOKY Halloween! I am fixing spaghetti and meatballs, Caesar salad, and corn to fill everyone up with something hardy, before sending them on the candy binge!

Hope ya'll have fun!

Halloween is coming!

It is Wednesday! Halloween will soon be here! Do you have your little ghosts and goblins ready? We are so excited.

We will have a lot of trick or treaters, but this year I opted for quantity over quality. YEP, I am going to be one of "those" people. It is just that we easily have 200 trick or treaters on any given Halloween. I have bought bags and bags and bags(usually about 8 total) I always get chocolates the good stuff and give 2-3 pieces a child, I always run VERY close to running out. Not anymore!

I am not giving to anyone that comes without a costume this year and I am not giving to any one that is over 15 not T.O.T with a sibling!

I am giving twizzlers this year, I have about 400. See we have 853 homes in this neighborhood, (we are huge) so the children will get plenty. It makes me so angry to see unaccompanied children walking up and down my street with king size pillow cases so full they can't even carry them and NO costume! It just shows a lack of breeding and gratitude. Seems so greedy. Now that isn't the majority and I would venture to say that they DON'T live in this neighborhood. MANY people come and drop their children off here because we are so big. They come pick them up about 9:30-10:00 PM and that is just too late for T.O.T

Yes, I may be the Halloween Grinch, but I just can't take it! So in an effort to curb some of this behavior I am changing MY habits. After all, we should start within ourselves right? I may even start handing out Christian tracks instead of candy. As a servant to my God I am supposed to take every opportunity to witness for him. This is a time of year where people are coming to my home and I could spread THE WORD.

OK, so that is my rant for the day! Please forgive me, this just really irks me!

I am on my way to work at The Republican Headquarters for the night. Don't forget to wear RED on Friday and if your of the female persuasion RED lipstick on election day!

roaring 20's

I had to get these on here! They so looked the part.

Wanted to add some GREAT pictures of Salah and Michelle. Michelle is with Dance Trance here in Birmingham. They had a party Saturday night and boy did Michelle and Salah look the part. The theme was the roaring 20's and WOW did our friends look like they stepped right out of that era! Totally glamorous!

They had so much fun and we LOVED the pictures!

Joe and I are about to snuggle in (it is some kind of cold out there!) and watch The Strangers and the classic Sweeney Todd, I love that movie, even the new one! Halloween scary movie time!Have a GREAT NIGHT!

Boo At The Zoo

I will have pictures of everything up by the end of the week.

I PROMISE!

Wow, yesterday was so exhausting and yet lots of fun. Michelle, Salah and the boys joined us to start the day at the Hillsboro Fall Festival. Let me just say again this was an amazing little festival. The children all won stuffed animals that were bigger than they were! Olivia won a dinosaur and HUGE puppy dog. Orren won a Saber Tooth tiger and a puppy dog (OK so I won the tiger and Joe the dog, but HE won it lol) We stuffed ourselves on hot dogs, popcorn, snow cones and drinks. ALL of this food, games, jump thingies ALL of it is complimentary and that is so generous of the folks there! Here is the link to pictures of "our house". I just LOVE this house. If they had been built when we were in the market this would so be where we live. Do I really want to move now? ummmm no!


I saw Hewy and his family. They are such awesome people I love getting to visit with them whenever I can.





Then we were off to Boo at the Zoo I have done some research on Boo @ the Zoo at other major zoos across the country. Jackson, Baton Rouge, New Orleans (similar to ours), Montgomery. Ours is by far MUCH bigger and has MUCH more to offer. The only one in our area to rival it at all is the ZOO Atlanta it is a really good one as well. BUT the members of that zoo get free admission and we don't. For our family of four (paying for three) it was $51.00! That's not a typo folks. I was a little perturbed because as members, we should at least get a discount. NOPE!


The Planet of the Apes (in the primate house of course) Haunted House was a lot of fun. It was somewhat intense for the younger ones in our group and was the MAJOR contributor to the bedfellows we had last night. It was kind of funny to watch the little ones get "spooked" with out being terrified.

The children loved the ghastly carousel that went backwards. This is where things went downhill quickly for the Breland crew. After a brief visit to the car, things were back on track.

The Haunted hayride had been toned way down from previous years and Olivia was relieved as that has always been her fright!

You gotta love the fact that at the end of the roller coaster ride you go through the doors where is snows and Santa greets you holding a sign that says 63 days til Christmas! Thanks Santa.

On that note, we are looking forward to the zoolight safari which is in Dec. Here is the info:

"Zoolight Safari 2008December 12-14, 19-23 & 26-30 5-9 p.m. enjoy a fabulous night of lights, fun and holiday spirit as the Birmingham Zoo comes alive for 13 nights! It's the only place in Birmingham where it snows every night. Also, enjoy an expanded light show synchronized to all your favorite holiday tunes!
Be sure to stop at the Barn in the Children's Zoo for photo opportunities, animals and holiday crafts for all to enjoy. Ride the train (additional charge) to experience a winter wonderland. Enjoy half a million lights, holiday music and plenty of festive spirit. The Zoo will close at 4 pm every night of ZooLight Safari. "

well, at least members get to do that without extra admission.

If anyone wants to come and join us for the zoolight safari, come on we would LOVE to have you!

Tough love vs Spanking

This was cute I got from my Aunt...

-----Tough Love vs. Spanking - Good Argument -----

Most of America 's populace think it improper to spank children, so I have tried other methods to control my kids when they have one of 'those moments.' One that I found effective is for me to just take the child for a car ride and talk. Some say it's the vibration from the car, others say it's the time away from any distractions such as TV, Video Games, Computer, IPod, etc. Either way, my kids usually calm down and stop misbehaving after our car ride together. I've included a photo below of one of my sessions with my son, in case you would like to use the technique. Sincerely,
Your Friend

Thanks Aunt Jacquie! I love it. Very funny

The Bridge

Getting ready to cheer on the Tide! Wanted to share this video with all of you. It will change everything for some and for others it will just remind you of what is important and the sacrifice made. Even if you have heard the story before, Oprah had this man on her show some years back, this video is amazing. Please take the time to watch, it could change your life.

May God Bless and keep you safe!

ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!

Just for fun, it is Friday Family Fun night!

This was so funny to me!

Not too much tonight as it is taco, family fun night so I have to go claim my piece in Monopoly! I just wanted to share some political humour. This weekend lots on the agenda, providing I get to feeling a WHOLE lot better.

Bama has a HUGE game and we are very excited about it. Due to some unforeseen circumstances we had to cancel our party.

Sunday, we have Boo at the Zoo

the children are very excited!

Check back Monday for pictures.

Not feeling myself today, case of the blues

Not much going on today. It was Survivor night here, we are loving the way things are playing out!

I wanted to add a few more pictures from some things over the past couple of days. I am not feeling myself today so I will post more at a later time.

Til then enjoy the pics

My banner from for when I returned home after the beach trip

a look at the cut from the back

much happier back at home with my Chief!

Orren's first hair cut!

Pictures at home before the appointment

Today was the day. I did it. I finally cut my precious baby's hair. Curls are gone. He screamed the entire time. Oh, he was so not happy! Suckers, sippy cup, promise of whatever he wanted all to no avail. He could have cared less if Toys R Us was next door and we could go if you will just sit still. The hair cut is beginning to take shape of what I eventually want, but it will have to grow and be cut a time or two more.

So we are having some BBQ for dinner and wine. We are going to need lots of wine! Here are the pictures:

Last view of the curls

First cut, bye bye curls

Not even a sucker could calm this savage beast!

Please Mommy! I don't want to sit in this boat anymore!

Well, let's hope it isn't this bad every four to six weeks!

Today is Joe's Birthday!

Happy Birthday Precious, we love you! You are the perfect Daddy and Husband. Hope your day is wonderful!

We are cooking gumbo and pumpkin pie to celebrate

I will post more later, I am a busy girl today!

Lots of cooking and baking to prepare for Joe's day

Did you miss me?

In Mom and Daddy's backyard

I have returned to the Land of Nod! Did you miss me?

I missed the family and blogging, BUT I had a really good time!

Michelle and I got into Gulf Shores about 10:30 or so. The trip down was eventful enough. FUN but CRAZY! Sprinkled with panic attacks and near death experiences. Michelle tried to kill us more than once!



Then we stopped for gas and this car almost hit me! I said he almost hit me and Michelle informed me that it was a girl. I said NO WAY that is a dude! As we walked off Michelle said that is a g-i-r-l. I said well I think she can spell so perhaps we did not achieve the discretion we were after. This may have been one of those you had to be there situations but it was so funny.
CRAZINESS!



When we got there Mother had done a beautiful basket of goodies with smoked tuna dip from Blalocks, strawberries, and champagne. She also had a quiche that she made waiting for us in the fridge so we had breakfast! We might as well have been on our own private beach because there were very few people there.


The Dolphins playing



We spent so much time on the balcony over looking the water. It was very cool if not just cold! So we drank lots of coffee, ate quiche and stayed under the blankets listening to the waves. We watched sting rays as the performed like ballerinas along the shore. Dolphins were playing and we even saw a shark! We literally sat there from 7:30 AM - 12:45 PM on Saturday. Then we decided to grab a bite to eat, so we went to Desoto's I had the shrimp and Michelle had the crab cake po'boy. After that we headed to Mother and Daddy's where we had chocolate martinis and watched Alabama "survive" Ole Miss





Then we stopped at "the shark" to look around and picked up some hush puppies and peel and eat shrimp at The Shrimp Basket We went back to the balcony and ate watching the moon and the stars over the ocean.




No one on the beach!

Sunday morning we got up and sat on the balcony AGAIN! had the last of the quiche and coffee. Finally we packed everything up, loaded the car and put our feet in the ocean one last time. We met Mother and Daddy for lunch at LULU's Daddy's treat! He had to spoil the girls. Michelle and I both got the Cheeseburger in paradise! YUMMMMMMMMM. Then we got our t-shirts and headed to Birmingham.





We took in a few stops here an there Priester's is always a must and we ate our way through the store!





I did not get to see Jen Dust bunny hostage even though I had high hopes to do so. Jen I got your message in the car on the way home when I charged my phone. So sorry, we WILL do it next time.





I came home to a banner the children had made for me that hung across the fireplace. It was so precious and said "welcome home Mommy" it had their hand prints and kisses all over it.


Seems as though my crew is sick and not feeling well, so today I am tending to all of them. Joe did teach the children how to make Orren's leap frog bus say "words" some of which we could have done without! It says the letter when you push it. Things I have heard o-k ....p-u....i-c-u....and my fave i-c-u-p (we don't allow that word in our house so the children think it is REALLY funny!) Gotta love time with Daddy!



I am so thankful to Joe and my family for letting me go, to my parents for everything and a great lunch! More pictures tomorrow!

On another note, those friends on facebook that have been following the changes since late last night...... I am OK Joe and the children are OK. There is a family issue we are dealing with. Thank you for your concern and I will try not to be so cryptic.

Beach Bound

I am getting ready to leave! I hope that all survive while I am away. I am excited and ready to hit the road.

Today is Aunt Kay Ivey's birthday,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

We love you.

I am not sure if I had updated about Orren's hair. Well, we are going next week. I am giving in. I am sure I will be crying and in need of comfort. My parents will be here so that we can all share in this very precious milestone.

Joe and the children are going out to play this afternoon and I will be baking a pumpkin pie. YUMMY!

Orren and Olivia on the float last year

Last year we were in the Helena Christmas parade and we are starting the early stages of preparations this year. Be sure to look for us!

Countdown has begun!

This is our family condo
This is the view

The countdown has started! I will be on the beach in three days! No children, No hubbies, just the girls! I will miss the family and I am cooking so that they are left with sustenance. I am not too worried because they know where Pannera and PF Changs are. AND as you can see in the picture, he knows how to grill.

I hope all of you won't mind my absence for a few days. I will be back and posting on Sunday, with pictures. I have NEVER left my family alone in over 10 years. I sort of feel guilty, but not really! LOL





Not too much on tap today. It was mostly an art day. We have been working on art projects for Christmas and as "happies"for GiGi and other family far away. Wait until you see the peacocks that we made! I will post pictures AFTER they are sent off. They are so cute. I hope they will bring happiness to those we will be sending them to!





I had a wonderful conversation with Suzanne (my cousin's wife), today. We are beginning to work out the details of Thanksgiving. It was so much fun at their house last year. I think we are leaning that way again. That is great because Madison and surrounding area is FULL of our family and friends now. David and family, Clancy and family, Tracy and family, Shana and family, Aunt Jacque and family, GiGi. There are still some things to work out so we will see.





We want to see Joe's sister and Mother in Hattiesburg as well, so there are some details still.
Joe's sister Christy with Orren @ our house in Nov.




Speaking of, Nona and Pal are coming next weekend! Very exciting. It has been a year since Nona was here. She and Pal married in Feb so this will be the first time he has ever been to our house. (Joe's Father passed away 2002)





I am taking Joe on in a game of Rummy and getting ready to watch Christian Slater's new show, so I am done for now!

May the Lord, mighty God bless and keep you forever

Just go to Russia and then go 3 miles, DUH!

Today has been a great day and we have had so much fun! As it is coming to a close I had to share before I start to forget so many of those little things.

First thing this morning while we were cooking pancakes, Orren was up to his old tricks. In an effort to corral him Joe decided to make a barrier. Now keep in mind we have very wide openings and child gates don't come large enough for several of them. One of those is in between the formal dining room and the kitchen. So Joe got my laundry drying rack which expands and laid it on it's side. The openings were small but not small enough. In about 30 seconds Orren had ducked and weaved right through it. I died laughing and said try again Dad. Orren stuck his little head back through the slats and mimicked "try again Dad" and then took off. Joe and I could not help but laugh. Nothing like being outsmarted by the 15 month old.

As we sat down to have breakfast Olivia said our blessing. She had accidentally started eating before we were all seated and had given Thanks. We have had a couple of episodes like this so we reminded her again of how important it is to give Thanks to our Heavenly Father before we eat and that it is not polite to start before everyone else is seated. So her blessings went something like this.... "Thank you God for our family, house, and food. Be with our family far away. Tell your son Jesus that I love him and I am sorry for forgetting to say the blessing................again."

While watching a National Geographic documentary today Olivia said she wanted to see the monument to Balto and the sled race. I in my teaching voice said "Oh, darlin that is in Alaska and we won't be going there anytime soon." To which Olivia responded "Why not?" Very matter of fact I said that it was much too far. Olivia in the way that only a pre-teen can, said "All you do is go to Russia and then 3 miles." Hellooooooo! What was I thinking? Duhhh. Joe and I just looked at each other and thought well aren't we just the stupidest people on Earth.

At lunch today Orren did not want his pasta Alfredo. He very much wanted his sisters saltine crackers(she had the soup). After he was told no, he very slowly crawled his little hand across the table. Then slowly "walked" his fingers up her plate as fast as lighting snatched a cracker and shoved it in his mouth. He did get reprimanded but he also got a few crackers.

These children are truly the joy of my life!

I am going to get back to the family now, UNO is starting back up and I must defend my title!

My Hubby is the best!

My husband is so wonderful! I woke up to coffee, bacon, biscuits with pecan pumpkin butter from Williams Sonoma (it should be illegal, I discovered it about 6 or 7 years ago, I might have a pumpkin butter problem) and grits. He spoils me and I know it. He never fails to step in when I don't feel my best. I am somewhat better after a decent nights sleep.

Olivia has an appointment @ 10:00 for her flu shot then Joe and I are going to start on the garage. If you don't hear from me soon, send in the troops!

Illness strikes the Land of Nod

I am so ill today. To make the most of it I sent Joe to pick up PF Changs (hee hee any excuse right?) Well, we got green beans and hot and sour soup at least. It makes you feel better!
I was not feeling the steak and gravy originally on the menu for this evening.

So just to be clear according to my past posts P F Changs makes great bandages for wounds fresh from losing gnome hunts. Great for anytime you don't want to cook. Is a celebration must, and now a cure all for illness! I think we have covered it is my favorite go to place.

I seriously think that I might have the flu. Ironically Olivia goes for her flu shot in the morning. I have such mixed emotions about giving that to my children, that is another discussion for another time, too ill tonight.


I got this from Leigh @ Bloggeritaville, one of my favorite blogs! Again since I am so sick tonight this is going to be it for now.

Things I have Learned from Have Being in Alabama
THINGS I HAVE LEARNED FROM HAVE BEING IN ALABAMA . ..(author unknown)
Possums sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air.
There are 5,000 types of snakes on earth and 4,998 live in Alabama .
There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in Alabama plus a couple no one's seen before. If it grows, it sticks; if it crawls, it bites.
Onced and Twiced are words.
It is not a shopping cart; it is a buggy.
People actually grow and eat okra.
'Fixinto' is one word.
There is no such thing as 'lunch.' There is only dinner and then there is supper.
Iced tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you're two.
We do like a little tea with our sugar!
Backards and forwards means 'I know everything about you.'
You don't have to wear a watch because it doesn't matter what time it is. You work until you're done or it's too dark to see.
You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH them.
You measure distance in minutes.
Sometimes you have to switch from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day.'
Fix' is a verb. Example: 'I'm fixing to go to the store.'
All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect or animal.
You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
You know what a 'DAWG' is.
You carry jumper cables in your car . . .. For your OWN car.
There are only four spices: salt, pepper, Tabasco and ketchup.
The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but require 6 pages for local gossip and sports.
The first day of deer season is a state holiday.
100 degrees Fahrenheit= 'a little warm.'
We have four seasons: Almost Summer, Summer, still Summer and Christmas.
Going to Wal-mart is a favorite past time known as 'goin' Wal-martin' or off to 'Wally World.'
A cool snap (below 70 degrees) is good pinto-bean weather.
A carbonated soft drink isn't a soda, cola or pop . . . it's a Coke, regardless of brand or flavor. Example: 'What kinda coke you want?'
Fried catfish is the other white meat. (Pork's 1st)
We don't need no stinking driver's Ed . . . If our mama says we can drive, we can drive.

Casting Crowns, little boys, events

Joe and I at Chateau Elan

Casting Crowns Christmas Celebration is coming Dec 6th! I am so excited Micheal English, Avolon, and several others are coming with them! Whew we are going to live @ the BJCC during the month of Dec!



We are headed to Oktober Fest this weekend. I figured so far this year we have covered the Lebanese festival, the Greek festival, we might as well hit the German festival!



Of course, we will still be cleaning out the garage over the weekend. I have got to get ready for the enormous yard sale we will be having in November!



Tickets go on sale for the Polar Express in a couple of weeks! We cannot wait to take everyone. Heart of Dixie Railroad It is the perfect family event for little ones, in between ones, and grown ones!



Orren, as I have said in previous posts, has learned to remove his pants and diaper. Why? I just do not understand it. Well, it finally happened he took off his diaper and before I could even cross the room to catch him, he wet the floor! You know, now I know what is meant by it is the best birth control you can have! NO DOUBT!!!! Where do I sign up for sterilization?

No seriously, my children are my BEST blessing! I would be lost without them. I am so blessed to have them and I thank God everyday for them. Mommy is just trying to adjust from the land of fairy wands, tiaras, and quietly playing with babies for hours to lighting bolt moves, cars, and knights on horses that really hurt when stepped on. We have to see how everything works and what will happen if I do this? Oh my goodness! How long do Boys stay like this?



I still have not cut his hair, I am just not ready. I am catching a lot of grief about it from all sides. Even strangers, but then I will run into someone who says oh, mine was three! I have just decided I will know when I am ready. That is when I will do it.

Caio

Rainy days, new discoveries an movies

We had a dreary day today and the children are piled up in our room to brace for a long night of storms. It is just easier on nights we know storms are coming to just make pallets and let them sleep on our floor.

Orren discovered that there is water in those big white things everyone is always sitting on. Yea, good times. It is just the right height for him to play with his boats. And guess what? Twizzlers (you know the ones that are starting to fill the enormous bowl of trick or treat candy along with m&m's etc) anyway, Twizzlers float! Who knew? BUT flashlights left out from the camp out..... do not like the water. oh, and just FYI a 15 month old's arm can and will get stuck in that little hole at the bottom. They don't like that AT ALL! All of this can happen in the time it takes you to put on a load of laundry, even though you thought everyone was watching shushy bye and drinking a sippy cup. Oh yea, our sippy cup count............. is now down by one.

Mother and Daddy got to spend some time with GiGi over the weekend. No real change and she doesn't understand not getting to go "home" I think that is going to be the toughest part of this journey. Please pray over that.

GiGi

I had such an amazing weekend and I was so thrilled to finally get Salah and Michelle in P F Changs. They liked it and everyone had a great time. Orren ate almost an entire order of green beans by himself! The Great Wall of Chocolate(2) we got to finish off the meal was soooooooooo good! Thank you again Salah and Michelle we really enjoyed it!



I got a really cute card from Clancy, my cousin. It said 29 again? I have heard of recycling but don't you think you are taking it too far? I was on the floor! Shana sent a really cute one as well that had Cruella on the front. Does this mean she thinks I am Cruella? LOL



We just finished watching The Happening by M. Knight Shaymalan (I know that isn't spelled correctly you will be alright I promise) DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME! This was a seriously bad movie. I was shocked as I usually LOVE his movies.

So I have started Christmas shopping, have you?

Little Johnny

I had to!

Little Johnny:

A teacher in Elmira , New York asked her 6th grade class how many of them were Obama fans. Not really knowing what an Obama fan is, but wanting to be liked by the teacher, All the kids raised their hands except for Little Johnny.The teacher asked Little Johnny why he has decided to be different again. Little Johnny said, 'Because I'm not an Obama fan.' The teacher asked, 'Why aren't you an Obama fan?'Johnny said, 'Because I'm a Republican.' The teacher asked him why he's a Republican. Little Johnny answered, 'Well, my Mom's a Republican and my Dad's a Republican, so I'm a Republican.'Annoyed by this answer, the teacher asked, 'If your mom was a moron and your dad was an idiot, What would that make you?' With a big smile, Little Johnny replied, 'That would make me an Obama fan.'


I will really post later today

It is My Birthday!

I had a great day. I heard from all my family and friends. Thanks for all the well wishes. It makes turning 34 ... I mean 29 much easier!
Joe, Olivia and Orren made me breakfast in bed and a red velvet cake. My sweet precious friend Margaret gave me a gorgeous basket filled with gourmet "Autumn" goodies", a beautiful tea towel and a great card. We had such a good time watching Bama win with them today. The children played so well together, we are so lucky to have such good neighbors to call friends.
Michelle was the first outside of the house to call with Birthday wishes. Due to schedules I did not get to see her today, but we (the families) are having lunch at P.F Changs and then a gathering @ their house tomorrow!
Mother and Daddy called and sent a great card. With quite a teaser in it. I was told to take the contents and spend on myself and have fun........it was a dollar. You read that correctly. My Daddy has the funniest sense of humor. I was cracking up. He told me that he would see if he couldn't do better when he saw me. He is such a tease. I love him so much. I am a Daddy's girl.
God Bless & Love to all

This is so funny. Make sure you have your speakers on to hear the video and mute the music player on the side bar with the background music.

I have gotten so many phone calls about this. Thanks Julie for sending it to me!

Feeding the geese

Joe and the children had a great time at the park and fed the geese a loaf of bread. Orren did not think that was such a good idea. Every time Joe pinched a piece of bread off to throw to the geese, Orren opened his mouth trying to eat it. When it was thrown he got so upset. So that little adventure had to be cut short.

We did something we NEVER do tonight and that was eat on trays in the living room. Orren was confused at first, but then he thought it was the greatest thing ever. I hope that we don't have issues making him sit at the table tomorrow. But, it is Friday Family Fun Night and Daddy is in charge so, c'est la vie.

Joe pointed something out that I had not thought of about Orren. He has been carrying a piglet "knife" for 2 days. Joe is crazy for knives. As Joe says, he is my son.

Birthday's, dinner plans, and surprises

So everyone knows that tomorrow is my birthday (29 lol). So as birthday week rules are in place, Joe took the children to the park and I have some alone time. Tomorrow is a big busy day. Joe and the children, I am sure will fix breakfast in bed as they have for 10 years and then they are going to the Home Depot workshop while I get more Mommy time. After that we have a football game to watch at 2:30 with The Hayes crew. Then P F Changs (my fave) with Salah and Michelle ( I have been looking forward to that for over a month more than anything b/c they never eat there with us and now they HAVE to)! Sunday we will have family day @ the El-Falah House with Birthday cake Michelle is baking. ( you read that right, she is baking. It isn't that she can't, she just doesn't) What a weekend! God has truly blessed me with precious family and friends.

I am a little suspicious of my parents. They have been in Jackson, MS. Just a couple of hours away. They acted kind of giggly when we spoke just a bit ago. It would not be beyond them to show up here tonight or tomorrow. Maybe my hopes are showing, I miss them so.

Since by Birthday week rules there is no cleaning or cooking by the birthday party, Joe is bringing home dinner and a movie when they get home from the park. So I am going to watch a Lifetime Movie until they return. Toodles!

Funny Church bulletins

They're Back!!! Church Bulletins: Thank goodness for church ladies with typewriters -- misspellings, bad sentence construction, or choice of words, which, all make for fun reading. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.'

The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.

Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house.

Bring your husbands.

The Peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing:

'Break Forth Into Joy.'

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church.

So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?'

Come early and listen to our choir practice.

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM -

prayer and medication to follow.

The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind.

They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

This evening at 7 PM there will be hymn singing in the park across from the Church.

Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM.

All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. is done.

The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM.

Please use the back door.

The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM.

The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church.

Please use large double door at the side entrance.

The Associate Pastor unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday:

'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours!!!

Baby Blaze

Most of you know that my niece Kayla and her husband Dalton are expecting a baby boy in Dec.

His name is Blaze and we got our first real look at him today. Courtesy of modern technology.

I will post more later today. I just had to get this up!

You're not that old Mommy, I mean you still have a couple of years until you're a 100

Thanks Olivia! Those were the words of the Princess over her mashed potatoes, gravy and steak tonight. She said, I know because I was Reading the book you had when you were little and the pages have that smell of old books but not too old. Tell that to my body, I cannot find my glasses that I am needing more and more to see because my senile mind has forgotten where I put them. And today my knee started to act up!
So just to clarify one more time..... I am turning 29.


Orren had his first accident today. Thought we might have to go to the ER for stitches, but luckily we avoided it. We have a nice shiner! He was standing up in the wagon and BOOM, the whole thing fell over and on top of him. He was so precious totting back to me with his arms stretched up toward me. He stopped crying as soon as I picked him up. It broke my heart, but he was tough!

I had an eventful day in the land of Nod. Things are settling down now. We have watched Survivor and gotten everyone tucked in. So goodnight all!

We got Booed!

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It is October 1st and that means Booing has begun. Man we got hit at around 3:00 this afternoon. It was a great package, it had a candle that was precious and candy and ribbon and water toy. It was in a precious bag that said you've been booed with of course the we've been booed sign for our door. We had been planning to boo our neighbors and could not believe we had been gotten first! ( I think we know who did it snicker snicker) We did a really cute big candy bowl full of marshmallows in Halloween shapes, and a cute little "boo" sign for our across the street neighbors (I am pretty sure they knew it was us so it is safe to say on here)



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Because I want you to get checked out to make sure you're healthy and will be around longer .


MEDICAL TEST


1. STARE INTO THE CAT'S EYES FOR 10 SECONDS<> ..


Then Scroll Down















2. NOW STARE IN THE PUPPY'S EYES FOR 10 SECONDS ... then Scroll Down

Your CAT SCAN and LAB TESTS are now complete..........

- couldn't resist...

OK, back to Halloween

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Olivia got her Halloween costume tonight, she is very excited! We have been decorating all day and have had a blast. We painted one of my old candelabras black then spray painted it with glitter, put in some orange candles, a spider ring, and voila! Instant spooky elegance. We have been doing stuff like that all day and the kids have loved it. I will post pictures on Halloween, we LOVE fall.

It is so cool and crisp that makes us so active. No air condition just open fresh air!

LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!

AP-Tuscaloosa

~ Authorities arrested Alabama head coach Nick Saban in the predawn hours Monday at his home in Tuscaloosa on animal cruelty charges.
Saban, 56, was charged with 85 counts of animal cruelty in an alleged attack which occurred Saturday night in Athens, Georgia.
Police said that as many as 92,138 witnesses saw Saban and a large group of violent young men under his control hit, kick, crush and destroy a large pack of mostly docile bulldogs
One officer was quoted as saying, "I haven't seen bulldogs treated this badly since the Michael Vick case."

Roll Tide Roll!

loved this, will post more later!