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!