Chuck E Cheese

What a blast Chuck E Cheese is! I hadn't been there since February-ish and they have added some new things since then.


Kari was so excited that she could hardly stand it. We ate pizza, italian breadsticks and some cinnamon thingies that were so good! I was really glad I made myself get up and walk before we went because I ate a little too much. My sister and I each took a child to play and seriously, what fun!! We were laughing later because I think we saw as many adults playing as kids.



We also did a little shopping and I just want to make a quick comment on these sweaters. I tried on an EXTRA SMALL and I looked like a cow. Now, I know that I'm not exactly a fashion-ista or anything but I seriously don't see the purpose of a sweater being so HUGE. When Ashley Noe can wear an XS, you know something's very wrong.




So, anyway. Back to Chuck E Cheese and shopping. We had such a good time and even though we had a few....um, issues with the kiddos, the day was good and ended very well! I love spending time with my mom and sister. My sister rarely gets to come up anymore but it's always a treat for the kids and I when she does come for the weekend.




:)

What I'm Loving Friday!

Yahoo! It's Friday.

1. I'm loving this new Friday post! It's so much fun.

2. I'm loving that I get to take Kari to Chuck E Cheese tomorrow!

3. I'm loving that I'm getting a new laptop computer next month. I've been waiting for the opportunity for a new computer for a long time and I'm very excited that I've been able to find one that's affordable and all that. Although I must admit that all the specifics of what I'm getting is still a mystery to me. I told my tech friend here at the bank, Bob, to pick me one out and I'd slap my debit card number on there and order it. I mean, really. Does it really matter that you have 107 extras on the computer and that it does 57 different kinds of font?

4. I'm loving that Mrs. T has decided to share her 5 baby kittens with us. Kari and Malachi get the giggles just looking at them. It's teaching Kari a tad bit of responsibility too. Anybody need a kitten? Because we ain't keeping them.

5. I'm loving that I finally picked up Herc for the first time, just so I can say that I have touched the icky thing. He was sitting in the corner of his little house and hadn't moved for a while. I was seriously afraid he was dead (afraid may be a strong word....more like hopeful?). So I picked him up and he did some kind of little wiggle with his claws and I promptly dropped him back in his house. Ugh.

6. I'm loving this poncho for Kari! Oh, I love it.

7. I'm loving this jacket for Malachi. He would be such a charmer in it. LOVE it.

8. I'm loving this weather. It was 56 this morning and I got to put hoodies on the kids! I LOVE hoodies! Hoodies are for winter like flip-flops are for summer. Necessities.

9. I'm loving the Lord and pray everyday to know him more. Like this song from Casting Crowns. Great lyrics and even better when they sing it.

So, what are you loving today?
:)

Promised Pictures!

Here are a few snapshots that SIL sent me yesterday.




Aren't they the cutest things EVER? I love it! My daughter isn't shy in any sense of the word and Ridge was kinda afraid of her I think. LOL! They were the stars of the wedding though. I honestly think people watched them more than the bride and groom.

:)

MIA

I know I've been missing in action for several days. Several reasons for this:

1. I left my camera in Latasha's purse and have no pictures to show until this weekend.

2. I've been suffering a migraine headache that put me off work yesterday.

3. Along with Malachi teething so bad that his body temperature is around the same temperature as Texas in August.

4. No time.


So, that's our life this week so far. I hope to have a totally awesome post this weekend or on Monday. Of course, I'll be posting the What I'm Loving Friday but as for some pictures of the kiddos....you'll have to wait until my camera comes back from vacation.

:)

What I'm Loving Friday!

I know this Friday post is a little early but I will be traveling to Alabama tomorrow and won't have access to a computer for a few days. So....here's to the 2nd edition of What I'm Loving Friday!

1. I'm loving that I get to leave work at 1:30 today and I'm off tomorrow!! Woohoo!!

2. I'm loving that Kari will be so cute in her little miniature bride dress in the wedding on Saturday! (pictures to follow on Monday)


3. I'm loving that Malachi's face lights up when I come to get the kids after work. He grins so big and immediately comes to give me a hug.


4. I'm loving this coat for Kari and I hope to order it soon.

5. I'm loving that my house is clean and my laundry is done!


6. I'm loving that tomorrow is payday! The Lord knows I need it. LOL.

7. I'm loving that I will probably get to eat Cracker Barrel in the morning! Because y'all know that food is always a priority for me. :)

8. I'm loving the new skirt I made from two pairs of jeans! It's so cute and trendy and the best part is that it only cost me $6 to make!! Which leads me to #9.

9. I'm loving Goodwill! Seriously. I hadn't been in a Goodwill in years but I went in there in search of some cheap jeans to practice making jean skirts with. I found an Under Armour turtleneck shirt that looked brand new for winter exercising outside for $2 and I bought 2 pairs of jeans (to make the jean skirt with) for $6! I found a lot of other stuff but I didn't buy much this time. I'll wait until I have lots of time to browse and make wise choices. I can't wait until my next trip!


10. I'm loving my sewing machine! I've had it for about 5 years but I'm just getting into using it. Since discovering that I can sew and actually do halfway decent at it...you all might see a new post with some skirts for sale!! LOL. I'm really getting into making them. I'm working on a cutie patootie skirt for Kari and I would already have it done except I broke ANOTHER seam ripper. I need a galvanized metal seam ripper to do all these skirts with apparently.

So, what are you loving this Friday? Can't wait to see your responses!!

:)

Please Pray for Kara Lee!

Today's post will be short as the one thing on my mind today is Kara Lee. She's at a crisis point in her battle with cancer and she, along with her family, needs our prayers desperately!!

www.karaglee.net

Please visit her website and click on the Updates tab to view the updates from the family.

Please pray for Kara!!

My Knight in Shining Walking Clothes

Last night on our evening walk with Lacey, we had a skeery experience.

For a little background:
I've made it quite clear in several posts that I despise anything reptile. I don't really like amphibious beings either but I can tolerate them more than reptiles. Lacey and I usually walk together but on the occasion that I'm walking by myself I always look extra close to the weeds and things for snakes and slithery things. Being with someone facing a dangerous something is better than being alone and facing it. I nearly had a heart attack once when I was by myself and saw something that resembled a snake. It was actually a snakeskin but that meant that some big nasty snake was lurking nearby. We do live in the country and the road we walk on is one farm after another. So the obvious thing would be that there are nasty critters taking up residence in the neighborhood as well as cows and horses and stuff.


This past Saturday Lacey had to do some school-related errands and couldn't walk the 5k with me. So I got up early and did the 3-mile walk by myself only to meet Mr. Raccoon twice. I mean, why? Why am I always by myself when I see critters that give me chills?


So...on our walk last night I happened to be on the side of the road that is next to the weeds/ditch. What was looking at me? A SNAKE. It's head was sticking up boldly, challenging me.


Oh, the screaming and running! I knew the day would come but hoped it would be when we had something with us that would quickly get rid of the snake. Like a gun and Uncle Chris.
The weird thing was that I picked up a big stick and threw it at the snake because I didn't think it was alive. You know how a snake's tongue will usually come out every so often and they will move a little at times? This snake was like a zombie or something. I threw the stick, no movement. I threw a handful of sticks and dirt to see if it would get spooked and go somewhere else. Again, no movement. So we knew it was either dead or waiting on us to move close so it could strike.
Lacey decided to brave it and either scare it off or kill it. She picked up this big log from the side of the road and hit it. Nothing. I'm totally not kidding.
I said "Lacey, that snake is so dead. It has to be."
About that time she threw another big log and it opened its mouth and slithered around!! Even as I write this, friends, I have chills. Poor Kari still hasn't recovered. She'll be scared of every animal out there before she's 5 if we keep this stuff up.


One more big throw and it finally slithered away. It was honestly about 2 feet long!!! Lacey even went over to the weeds to be sure it wasn't still lurking there.

My brave SIL. Either brave or a dingbat....haven't figured out which to call her yet.
:)

Funny Stuff

First of all, thanks to everyone who participated in the What I'm Loving Friday! It was fun and I can't wait to do it again this week! :)

This weekend I was reminded just how fast my kids are growing up. It's so obvious by the way Kari talks and acts and by the way Malachi is rapidly learning stuff.

Kari's newest favorite activity is playing school. She has a workbook that she does while at Gammy's during the day along with her new Fisher-Price computer that she blows our minds with. My 3 year old knows how to navigate around on the computer with the mouse and it's amazing. She also has these little "stories" she tells everybody. On our walk the other day she told Lacey and I about a girl named Myrtle who was swimming in our pool and drowned. She said that it was "bad, bad, bad." When I confronted her about her "lie" she said that she wasn't lying, it was the "twuth of God!"
Oh, heavens. I don't even say that so I'm not sure where she got "twuth of God."

She has also been trying to read books on her own. The words consist of either "ping a ding a ding" or she tells the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears or Jonah and the Big Fish. It's SOOO hilarious!

She likes to play "Scunday School" and act like Aunt Lacey. She says "Before we get started, does anybody have a pwayer wequest?"

But she also says the sweetest things like the other day when I was putting her in her car seat. I said "Kari, I love you so much!"
She says "I love you too. Thank you for being so good to me."
*TEARS*
Of course, there's always the issue with the deer. It shall forever haunt the child's mind. I have a story about that at the end of this post.

Malachi says some interesting variations of words. We've all worked with him and he's just plain stubborn. But the other day my FIL was telling a story and said the word DINGBAT. Apparently, Malachi picked right up on that one. He even said it for Dr. Miller last week!! I know Dr. Miller was so proud. (I'm totally kidding because he was not impressed)
He's very mechanically-minded (not sure if that's the correct grammar usage)and he likes to get any toy that resembles a screw driver and go to town on everything in the house. I LOVE it!! I can't wait to teach him to use the weed-eater and riding mower. Ha!
Yesterday after church, we all ate in the fellowship hall with everyone. It was fun and here are a few pictures I snapped:
Lacey and Robin (Lacey still had her apron on)

Ivy, Lacey and me (thank me, Ivy. I didn't put the Pepsident pic on here)


Malachi and Trinity (Malachi was stripped down to the diaper after his cupcake)


Which leads me to my "OMW. I DID NOT just do that!" story.
Last night we left Gammy and Pappy's about the time it got dark outside. Kari and I had made cupcakes for the dinner at church and we still had 3 left to take home. I was excited because that meant we each had one for after dinner tonight (I get excited about food y'all). I set my very nice, expensive air-bake cake pan on top of the van to put the kids in their carseats. I pulled out on the main road into traffic and all of a sudden we heard this big bang on the side of the van like somebody was hitting us. Kari started screaming and crying, I was hitting my brakes and checking the kids to make sure they were in their seats right because sometimes they unbuckle themselves if they work at it long enough.
"Oh, mommy! Did we hit another deah?"
"No, honey, we didn't!"
"Mommy, we hit a deah!"
"No, we didn't, Kari. I left the cake pan on top of the van and the 5 cars behind us just about wrecked to avoid hitting it or getting hit with it."
"Did they get our cupcakes?"
"Yes, our cupcakes are laying like mush in the road. Along with my cake pan."

See, Jess? You're not the only one that does stuff like that. I just hope someone didn't turn in my license plate number or something.


:)

What I'm Loving Friday!

Everybody seems to have a theme for Fridays so I decided to make up my own. Please join in if you want to and provide links for your Friday posts in the comments if you have a blog and do a What I'm Loving Friday. If you don't have your own blog, feel free to comment on what you're loving today!!

1. I'm loving Kari in this jean skirt. It's longer and it makes her look older but she is sooo cute in it!




2. I'm loving Natalie Grant's new song "Human". It's awesome and if you read the story behind it, it makes the song even better!


3. I'm loving the 5K walk me and SIL are doing in the morning. There's something about getting up early, your MP3 player set to some good tunes, walking/jogging and enjoying the beauty of the early morning. I know some of you all think I'm crazy but it's true. I LOVE getting up early to walk!

4. I'm loving the fact that Fall is almost here! I have enjoyed summer but I am so over it now. I'm ready to wear sweaters and boots. :)
Like this sweater and these boots.

5. I'm loving this skirt from Newport News. Too expensive for my budget, but I'm keeping an eye on it.

6. I'm loving that it's less than 3 months until we go to Tennessee for a week. But that also means I'll be turning 26....ugh.

7. I'm loving that I'm still saved. In this world where so many people are falling away and turning their backs on the Lord, it's a great comfort to know that I'm still saved in this late hour!

8. I'm loving that my mom is coming to visit today after work!! Kari has been crying for her for days now.

9. Knowing that it's only 3 months until my birthday and vacation, that means it's only 4 months until Christmas!! I am SOOO loving that! I know what y'all are thinking...don't push the season. But, seriously. It's the FUNNEST time of the year! I can't wait to go to the horse park to see the lights and walk through the petting zoo with the kids. I can't wait to go to the mall with my mom and shop and eat. (because that's always a priority) I can't wait to go to Joseph Beth for mine and my mom's yearly tradition of having the kids' pictures taken with Santa. (I'm not an advocate for Santa but it's fun anyway) I can't wait for all the family dinners. Yum.
Can I just say that I know these things AREN'T what Christmas is all about and I know that some people may think I'm terrible for thinking of this stuff when I think about Christmas. But these are all things that my family and I do every year together and it's what makes Christmas special. Yes, without them Christmas is still Christmas....the birth of our Saviour!! But all this other stuff helps us celebrate! :)

10. I'm loving that I've lost 28 pounds!! WooHooo!! I'm loving that my SIL has lost 58 pounds!!

11. I'm loving that this is Friday and that this time next Friday I'll be off work traveling to Alabama with my mom and the kids.

12. I'm loving these two babies as always!!! (notice Malachi is holding the cat's tail)






So, what are you loving today? :)

Doctor's Visit

Malachi had his 15 month check up yesterday with Dr. Miller. My little man is:

28.1 lbs
32.5 inches long
He's finally down to the 90th percentile. Up until he turned a year old, he was almost off the charts!! So his doctor was pleased with his stats this time.


While we were there Kari asked if she could step on the scales (something she won't enjoy 10 years from now). My 3 year old daughter has FINALLY reached the 30 pound mark. She weighed 25 pounds for almost 2 years and she's finally bigger than her brother!
Malachi also had to have his last 3 shots. Kari was trying to comfort him before the fact. It was so sweet..."Bubby, it won't be too bad. It will just hurt for a minute and then you will get a band-aid." She's getting to be such a big girl.


Speaking of which, she is also learning new things at a rapid pace. I purchased some books from one of those college sales people that come around during the summer. They're much like the My Baby Can Read books but they're made by a different company called Southwestern. Kari and I are totally enjoying these books!! We've been learning all kinds of new things but I wondered how many of those things she was truly retaining.

So yesterday at the doctor's office, they loaded Kari down with those big round stickers that they give kids. When we got out to the van, Kari handed me a sticker that she had folded in half and said, "Here ya go, mommy. I made you a semi-circle."


I mean, really. How many 3 year olds say stuff like that? But I became so excited that she was learning and retaining the things that we are studying!

Please pray for my Aunt Ellie. Her first chemo treatment was Monday. It doesn't sound as if things are going very well and she's in a lot of pain and discomfort. I think she's also facing a lot of fear so please pray that God's hand would be on her!

:)

The New Malachi and Other Stuff

This is the old Malachi:

And the new Malachi:

Bless his heart. After some mishaps with the trimmer, we decided to give the child a burr haircut in order for it to grow back thicker and more even. LOL! I kept a hat on him Saturday because, seriously. He looked funny, y'all.


On to other news...
Friday night the kids and I went grocery shopping and I had been dreading it for days. Because with both kids in 95 degree weather after a long day working....grocery shopping isn't exactly something you look forward to.
To my surprise the kids acted like angels. Malachi had a few times when he stood up in the buggy when I wasn't looking and I had a time trying to keep him sitting down. I finally strapped him in and although he screamed and cried, he finally accepted reality and settled down with a cookie. We finished shopping, ate at Subway and I actually got the groceries put away and my house almost all cleaned before the kids fell asleep. Kari climbed into the bed and asked for a blanket and the next thing I knew she was snoozing away. I rocked Malachi for 10.2 seconds and he was out like a light. WOW! I finished my laundry, ironing and house cleaning and settled down to enjoy a few minutes of quiet time with the Lord.



But guess who was awake? Eating. Drinking. Looking at me. Hercules. I'm telling you that thing gives me the shivers. Needless to say, I went on to bed at that point.

Altogether, we had a great relaxing weekend. My kids love it when I'm home all day with them and not working so I try to make the best of it. Saturday morning Kari and I fixed pancakes and then we put Malachi in the stroller and went to look at all the yard sales that are out for the big 127 Yard Sale. I found some great deals for a friend who's having a baby in about a month. But other than that, Kari only found some clothes for her baby dolls. We spent yesterday evening playing with baby dolls!!! How fun is that? Dressing them up, putting them to sleep, changing their "poo-poo" diapers and feeding them....I felt like I was 5 again!

By the way, Aunt Ellie starts chemo today. Please keep her in your prayers!!! They are home in Florida now so I'm sure that has already made a difference in the recovery but chemo treatments will be rough I'm sure.

Happy Monday!
:)

Have a Great Weekend!

I love you forever...


I'll like you for always...


As long as I'm living...



My baby (babies) you'll be!!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!
:)