Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween Everybody!!!

I hope you have a spooktacular day filled with tons of tricks, treats, ghosts and goblins!!

 

 

Random Phone Pics

I do take a lot of pictures with my phone but not all of it makes it to my blog, FB, Instagram or Twitter so I thought I would dump what I have taken pics of since my last post and share some of it with you.  :)

I came across this recipe in a magazine...most definitely need to try this one out!!

Pumpkin Caramel Pecan Cheesecake. 

This is my chalkboard sign that I wrote on a few months back with my chalkboard ink pen and AFTER I attempted to wipe it clean a few times to write something else on it.  Didn't work.  Guess its a good thing I wrote something generic that will apply year round!

My "Home" sign to the right as you come in my entry. I purchased it in Canton and finally hung it up.  Its my starting piece for this wall. 

 

My prize purchase in Canton this year.  My Texas star for the front porch.  Daddy got it hung up for us and I was so proud.  I love it!

 

Burn baby burn.  What an awesome release.  :)

Three special ladies in my life.  Stacy, Jana and Jennifer.  We talk almost daily.  We have helped each other through some tough times. 

Homemade pigs in a blanket or "piggies" I made Sunday afternoon.  Not bad for my first go round!

Laugh, apologize and let go...

going to learn how to tie a scarf this way...its different and I liked it.

Peace my loves...

My new life planner came in Tuesday!!  Love it!!

 

 he was SO EXCITED to get to school this morning, can't you tell?  LOL

This sinful thing was sinfully delicious...Pumpkin Cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese frosting top with cinnamon sugared pecans. 

 

 

ya'll have a beautiful evening...

 

 

BBQ Cook-Off. Check & Done.

The BBQ Cook-Off was last weekend and I have to say that as much as I enjoy it every year, I am super glad it is done and over with for another year.  Other than my brother and sister winning raffle prizes, we didn't walk away with any big wins this year but we sure did have some fun! 

 

It truly is a family event with everyone pitching in and helping out. 

 

Many thanks to everyone and we'll see you next year!!

Parade 2013

One of the first of many fun events associated with Bella's dance class is participation in the Fair Parade.  I signed her up to ride on the float and then asked her if she wanted to.  Kind of backwards huh.  Luckily she squealed yes.  A parent had to ride with her since she was under 5 years old so Mommy got the privilege of accompanying her.  The day of the parade it was supposed to rain.  We were told if it was raining when we got up, we wouldn't ride.  Good enough for me.  I'd be lying if I told you there wasn't a small part of me hoping it would be raining.  But it wasn't.  Bella even at one time told me she just wanted to stay home.  I considered it for a brief minute but decided we committed to riding, bought the shirts and I knew deep down she would love it. 

We had to meet by Wal-Mart by 8:15 a.m.  We got there and walked over to meet up with everyone else.  We were in good spirits and very excited.  I mean, just look at this smile!

 

Everyone loaded up on the float and we moved out to the street...and waited.  Passed the time with pictures and looking at the other floats lining up.  Trips to Whataburger for potty break, etc.

 

 

And we waited some more.  For two hours we sat waiting for 10:00 to arrive.  Bella starting melting about 30 minutes before we for go for launch.  She was hot, I was hot, the breezes would come and go.  Finally we started moving but my girl had had enough.  Boredom had set in.  She was so over this whole ride a float in the parade thing....

Thank goodness our dear friend Heather who owns a flower shop in town was just up the street.  I had texted her when we were getting close so she could step out to wave.  I kept telling Bella that everyone was here to see her in the parade so she better perk up and wave.  She wouldn't have it.  The above pose continued until she saw Heather.  Finally a smile!  After that she was the waving princess!

 

 

The last leg of the parade was brutal as the sun was beating right down on us and it got hot all over again but after all that my girl told me she had so much fun and couldn't wait to do it again.  I was happy.  The rain hit town just as we got back home so we both snuggled up and took a good little nap.  Being in the sun wears us out but we had a good time together, meltdowns and all. :)

 

 

October 15, 2002

October 15, 2002 was the day my second son arrived. 

Jace Andrew arrived at 12:03 p.m., just in time for lunch.  Today would have been his 11th birthday.  This year I am struggling.  I miss my son so much it hurts.  It hurts like nothing you've ever known.  But I have decided that in order to help myself through my grief this year, I am going to honor my son by doing one of things he has taught me. I am going to take time for the little things.  Hug my children a little tighter and a little longer.  Tell them and others how much I love them.  Toss out the schedule for a day and just have some fun.  Life every day is a privilege.  No one is guaranteed tomorrow.  You never know when you may get a phone call that will change your life forever so live it up today.  Don't wait for that perfect moment...you may end up waiting forever or lose that chance.  Do it now. 

And now I'm asking you to do the same. In honor of my son's 11th birthday...take time today to do something special that you normally wouldn't do.  Treat yourself and your family to pizza tonight instead of cooking.  Watch a movie together.  Play a game. Anything.  Just toss out the schedule for one night and have some fun.

I miss my son every single day.  But today is his day.  Today I am going to celebrate and honor him.  I hope you will do the same.  Y'all have a good one.

Happy Birthday Jace Andrew!!  Mommy loves you.... 

FALLelujah!

Saw this on a blog and totally agreed!!  This is so me!! 
Y'all have a GREAT Friday!!

 

 

And here's one I found a few weeks ago...

 

20 Things That Make Me Smile

I was thinking the other morning about Bella singing in the car and found myself smiling from ear to ear.  Its the cutest thing ever.  That lead me to think about other things that make me smile so I decided to jot them down here to share my list with you.  Here are 20 things that make me smile in no particular order...

1.  I LOVE listening to Bella sing.   Belting out lyrics like she owns the place and has a crowd of 50,000 cheering her on.  In reality, its only me and her brother...her two biggest fans.

2.  Watching my children do their thing. 

3.  Pictures of my children.

4.  Sonic Dr. Pepper.  It could also be a Bucee's Dr. Pepper or a corner store Dr. Pepper so long as its a fountain drink in a Styrofoam cup with just the right amount of the "good" ice in it.  Key points here.

5.  Cool weather.  Thunderstorms. Snow.

6.  Scarves.  I get obsessed more and more every year.  You can never have enough in my book.

7.  Pumpkins, Fall colors, cool crisp air, picking pecans, football, crunchy leaves, Halloween, Thanksgiving...just about anything Fall.  Its my favorite time of year. 

8.  Home cooked meal.

9.  Drinking coffee on the patio. 

10.  Soups.  Nothing like a good bowl of soup to make you feel better.

11.  Nice people.

12.  Sweet "nothing to gain" compliments.

13.  MilkDuds.

14.  Christmas music.

15.  A good book.

16.  Flowers.  Whether its a field of them, the ones growing in my yard, garden or flowerbed or an arrangement of sorts, flowers always make me smile.

17.  Accomplishments.  Big or small. 

18.  George Strait, Tom Hanks, John Travolta, John Stamos, Robert Redford, Sam Elliott, Gary Sinise, Matthew McConaughey, Mark Harmon, Patrick Dempsey to name a few. Basically sexy men.  :)

19.  Girlfriend time.  Its great therapy. 

20.  Hugs and snuggles from my children. 

I realize this list could technically be more than 20 things but who's really counting?  What makes you smile? 

I'm Dragging

I am dragging ass big time today so I would say Canton was a success!  We laughed, we gossiped, we ate, we drank, we were silly and boy oh boy did we shop!!

Today I have been told the following....

Dang girl, you have bags under your eyes (no kiddin'!)
Wow, you look rough....(gee thanks)
Dang, you look tired....(I AM tired you perky little bottle of sunshine)
You must have partied hard (nope, but I shopped hard!)

Absolutely none of the comments above in parenthesis were muttered out loud.  Ok, well maybe the last one I did say, but the rest were muttered by the voices in my head and I'm pretty sure those voices were slinging daggers as well. 

Here are some pictures of us girls....

 

 

Stay tuned as there's more to come from our trip.  I've decided I'm going to start compiling our trips to Canton into a book titled....

"We're Just Here To Eat Your Nuts"

Our Adventures in Canton

 

Y'all have a good one!

 

 

 

Canton Bound Tomorrow!!!

As I sit here typing this out, I am making a list of things I will be searching for in Canton this weekend and trying to check off my packing list.  Supposed to have some fall-like weather so I'm pulling out my fall attire.  That alone has me super excited!! I am so ready to get away this weekend with girlfriends.  I need the time to laugh, be silly, gossip, eat, drink and do a lot of shopping.  The shopping will actually be a bonus.  I'm just ready for some girl time. 

In search of....

• Texas star for my porch
• Fall & Christmas wreaths
• Candle holder thingies (I have no idea what the proper name for these things are so I'm going with candle holder thingies)
• Picture for Bella's room (Bella has this plate on the wall that covers the spot where the breaker box used to be--still need to cover that ugly thing up)
• And just maybe....a giant chicken!!

This is just a few things I've been looking for or thinking about.  I know in my head what I want, its just finding it.  ha!  I have lots of other things I'm thinking about so we'll see what I end up with.  If and when I make the decision on a star for the front porch, I will be tickled pink. 

Y'all have a good one!!

  

Running Cross Country

Bella and I made it to Christopher's cross country meet Saturday.  We drove through rain showers to get there but all was sunny and hot in Needville so there were no worries of another rain out.  I was glad because I really wanted to see my boy do his thing.  The huge smile on his face when he turned around to see me and his sister there made me so happy and I may or may not have teared up.  I can still see it. I even got a big hug from him!  We arrived shortly before he was off to run so we pretty much just said hello, gotta go run, see ya later mom.  I tried to take pictures across the field from where he was stretching and warming up...I stayed opposite as not to intrude on him too much. 

So I need to improve on my picture taking skills as my boy is running so you can see his face and not his back side.  I couldn't help it.  I was too busy cheering him on and encouraging him....I mean my goodness, I was a proud momma who wanted her boy to know I was there supporting him.  ha! 

Bella had a bird's eye view on top of Brad's shoulders...little stinkpot wouldn't smile for me.  She was hollering as loud as she could though "go Bubba go!!!"  It was heart melting. 

I tried to count the runners as they went by so I would know where Chris was but I lost count.  Shocking huh.  I think when he passed me the first time he was around 20th, give or take a few.  We are pretty sure he finished about the same although he did pass up two runner's in the last leg when his rockets kicked in.  He said they gave him a card at the finish line but he didn't look at it.  I did walk over to see him after and he once again gave me that big smile and with his sweaty arms out said "want a hug?"  Of course I did.  I told him I didn't care about that.  I just wanted him to know how proud I was of him. 

He gets a break this weekend and then one more meet we think.  He's not sure about another meet on the schedule.  But he's having fun and enjoying it.  That's all that really matters isn't it.