Cars.........

I'm trying real hard not to get new car fever, but mine will be paid for next spring, so it's about time to get the fever. I KNOW I can't get a new car, but I can wish, hope and think about it can't I? I've never paid off a car on my own. DH and I have been married for 15 yrs and have always had a car note. The past 3 yrs we've had TWO. Both cars will be paid off within a few months of each other in the spring. He did inform me that after he gets his paid for, he's buying a four-wheeler. Thats fine. He can save the money for a couple of month, make a large down payment and only finance a little and then pay it off by the next year. His car/truck is older than mine so I think we'll be buying him another car before me. With the tution for Em's school, I just can't have another 4 yrs of two car payments. It's about broke me. Plus I know as she gets older and involved in more school activies, I'll be spending more and more "extra" money.

Christmas is right around the corner. Em wants an i-Pod. Can you believe it? I'd love one too, but I think Steve and I will skip getting Christmas for each other this year (just not in the funds). Em doesn't really need anything or hasn't said much of what she other than that. Steve and I did talk about getting comcast DSL at home yesterday. We'd need it to download music. I would like it, but right now at home I have bellsouth and it only costs me $9.95. Paying $45.00 more a month is going to be a big adjustment in my month bill budget.

Nothing more to really talk about. I'm almost finished with the gift album I've been working on. THANK GOODNESS. I was so NOT in the mood to work on it. I have a pink/orange friends book started that is going to be really cute. I want to finish it!

Em old elementary's Carinval is this week/weekend. She is begging to go. I guess I'll take her and her girlfriend Friday night instead of going to a crop. She really can't go during the week because of homework and Saturday she cheers in an away game. What a great mom I am!

More later ........

Drop at the door or walk in?

For almost 9 years, I've walked Em in the door at daycare and took her to her class. Of course most of that was because she was really too small to do it herself. And then as she got older, the tradition just stuck. Now since she doesn't go to daycare in the morning, I decided we need a new tradition. She goes to the elementary gym in the morning before school. She can go in as long as there are lights on in the entry way. Some mornings we get there too early and some mornings right on time. The first week or so, I walked her in so she could get a feel for it and I would know what was going on during that time. But last Friday I kinda pulled up at the curb and pushed her out. Not really, but I was late and needed to get to work. She needed to get in the gym and re-read her AR book. But this wasn't something new for her. I had fussed and lectured her about it last Thursday and Friday. How she was old enough to walk in the door herself, no body elses' parent brings them in, how I've been doing it for 9 years, blah, blah, blah. This morning she knew better than to say anything when I pulled up to the door and told her I loved her, gave her a kiss and told her to behave. She did it and she looked so big doing it. Getting out, acting like she was embrassed that I was telling her what to do. It didn't bother me till just now. I want her to be independant and walk in by herself, but that means she needs me less and less. That makes me want to cry! She's growing up so fast!

Scheduling conflict; blogs; books; craft fair projects

I'm teaching at the Reminders of Faith - Journey of Faith conference here in Nashville in September. When I got Em's football schedule, I went through my calendar and wrote the game on Saturdays. When I got to homecoming, I realized it was the same weekend as the conference. Now, I know that this is just Jr. Pro football, but for little girls, homecoming is a big deal, our season hasn't even started and Em is trying to decide who she wants to walk with! So, I immediately sent Sandra and Kathy and email and told them the dilema and starting praying. I didn't exactly get what I prayed for. I prayed that Sandra/Kathy would say, we'll just switch your class times later in the day. I ended up telling them that I'd be there for the class, probably miss the end of homecoming (which would be okay) and probably be running like crazy to get to the class on time. We'll, God does answer prayers. Although I know this solution isn't the answer to everyone else's prayer, it was an answer to mine. My prayer was: please let it work out so I can do both! Unfortunely, the enrollment for the conference is not where they need it to be and many of the classes didn't have enough attendee's. So they have decided to cut classes and only have 10 classes that EVERYONE will attend. I teach on THURSDAY! YEA for me. I get to do both. Thank you God for answering prayers. I know Em would have been so disappointed if I hadn't been at homecoming, but I also had a commiment to ROF. Problem solved!

Blogs: How many do you read? I think I have about 80 bookmarked, but don't read them all daily. I usually read the ones I know people update reguarly. Kathrine Brooks, Heather D White, Tracie Claiborne, the Junkitz Blogs, Heather Preckel, Sara D and there are others. I like the glimpse inside their lives and especially the scrapbooking peeks we get. Who's do you read and why?

Books: I've been reading like crazy lately. My friend Renate got me started on the Janet Evanovich Plum series and I've read all 12 of the books in about a month. I read the last one in two days. (shhhh, don't tell, sometimes I don't have a lot to do at work - so I read!) I'm currently reading a Luanne Rice book called Summer of Roses. It's pretty good. It's taken me about 10 chapters to get in it. Of course, when I read this much, scrapbooking usually takes a back burner.

Craft fair: After I finish the baby boy book I'm working on, I need to start my craft fair stuff. I've got a "friends" 8x8 book almost finished. It looks pretty cute. Oranges, pinks, white. Very girly stuff. Then I was thinking about some altered clipboards and I guess a few pencil holders (made from beef stick containers - which my friend said would make cute teacher gifts!) and of course some paper bag albums - but not many --- mostly friends, girls and maybe a sport book or two.

Gotta run to break (our group never misses 9:00am break!)

UGH!

I forgot my blogger password and then couldn't remember my login! How did I get kicked out of the "automatic" password thingy? I just couldn't remember any of it cause I never sign on. Oh well, I'm here now!

Em started Goodpasture last week. Wednesday was 1/2 day, Thursday full day. Em is very a very social person. She's happiest when she is surrounded by her friends. And she's always been more of a leader than a follower ..... till now! We went to the "back to school bash" Friday night at the school and I watched her follow a goup of little girls around that she kinda knew. She was like the 5th wheel. It broke my heart. They didn't appear to be mean to her, it was just they could care less if she was there or not. I honestly made me think to myself, my gosh, what have we done. But then the logical part of my brain took over and said, you've made the best decision you could for your child..... she'll make friends eventually, but she'll get a GREAT education NOW! And I know, she will make friends. I just hope she lets if happen at its own pace and not force it, which has been my advice to her. These little girls have probably always gone to school together, give it time. But still, it's hard to wait, I know that! She did have a lot homework last night. It took us 3 hours to do it because she didn't want to do it and couldn't focus on it! Hopefully it will get better.

Nothing happening other than school and cheerleading. I have an 8x8 book started, but can't get in the mood for it. I really need to, cause I've got our work craft fair in Oct. So that only gives me a month to work on stuff. Honestly, I'm thinking I might give up my spot, I'm just not feeling "it" right now. Scrapbooking is the last thing I want to do!

Gotta run! More later

Anyone have advice on potty training a dog?

Okay, we've had this puppy since she was 4 months old. The previous owners were paper training her. I don't really have a good place for that, so we started outside training her when we got her. We'll, we've had her a year and she's still not completely trained. She stays in a crate during the day when we are all gone and goes out as soon as we get there. It does get a little sketchy while we are home. She goes out a couple times while we are home (sometimes more) depending on what everyone is doing. I try and keep my eye on her and if she seems to be wanting to go out or sniffing around, I'll take her out. Last night she was out of water and when I gave her some, she drank, drank and drank. But I had just taken her out when I discovered the water bowl was dry. I took her out before we went to bed and nothing, she did nothing. I guess sometime during the night (or early morning) she got up and needed to tinkle and did in DH's room (its the extra bedroom that he uses for his clothes and junk!) Of course, I called him on his way in to work and he was livid, tell me I've got to MAKE her go. Tell me, how to I MAKE a dog go potty?!?!?!?!? I pretty much said it wasn't entirely my responsbility. He could have taken her out this morning when he was up at 4:30 with his bug bitten legs putting more medicine on them. I've gotten up at 3:30 before just to let the dog out because she was restless. I'm not sure what else to do other than take her out EVERY 2 hours. But I know she won't go everytime we go out. Who would? What are we doing wrong?


By the way, listen what else happened last night. I woke up sometime during the night with my finger killing me. It felt swollen. I punched DH and told him (which he didn't respond), got up, wet my finger either with water or my own spit and took them off. But, for the life of me I can't remember where I took them off and put them. I'm hoping in my jewerly box because I have a faint memory of reaching over the dresser last night and feeling for the box, but it could have all been a dream! Who knows ...... I just know I don't have my rings on.

AND, DD has pink eye! She woke up yesterday morning with both eyes red and yucky. I took her to the doctor and she said he looked like pink eye. We also taked about the Ritlan (this is a blog in itself, but I hate the fact that I have to give her this medicne, but she can consentrate so much better when she is taking it!) and we talked about her tonsils, which are HUGE! She told me she'd refer me to a ENT if I thought she needed it. DD snores pretty loudly and even shows early signs of sleep apena (spell?).

Gotta run and work!

More pictures from Destin FL

Em playing in the water. It was pretty clean on this day. It did get yucky later in the week. But then cleared up when we left. I do love the white sand in FL ..... beautiful!

Okay, I'll bite!

I love Amy Howe's blog, scrapbook pages and especially her photographer. I stalk her blog daily! She kinda fussed at us stalkers who don't post comments and issued at challenge ..... I've been tagged. If you're reading this, consider yourself tagged also!!!


If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be?
Right now, I'm pretty content where I am. I've lived on the same street all my life, I don't know anything else. I really like quaint little towns, where things are slow and easy! But don't have any place in mind.
What's your favorite article of clothing? Embrassing as it is, a pair of cut off sweat pants that have a million holes in them, but they are so comfy!
Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex? Muscular arms and chest, toned legs, nice behind!
What's the last CD that you bought? Rascall Flatts
Where's your favorite place to be? Anywhere other than work!
Where's your least favorite place to be? Work!
What's your favorite place to be massaged? Never had one, but have a gift certificate!
Strong in mind or strong in body? mind!
What time do you wake in the morning? With the alarm, 5:15 am; without around 8:00
What's your favorite kitchen appliance? Microwave!
What makes you really angry? People being inconsiderate of others feelings and opinions.
If you could play any instrument, what would it be? Piano
Favorite color? Purple
Which do you prefer, sports car or SUV? Depends on what they are. I drive a truck and love being up higher on the road, but I love the new little 4-door BMW's!
Do you believe in afterlife? Heaven? Yes!
Favorite children's book? Charlottes Web
What is your favorite season? Toss up between spring and fall.
What's your least favorite household chore? cleaning bathrooms
If you could have one super power, what would it be? flying
If you have a tattoo, what is it? nope, don't have one ......... yet :)
Can you juggle? Nope
The one person from your past you wish you could go back and talk to? My great grandmother, I was about 3 months old when she died.
What's your favorite day? Saturday - although they are pretty busy.
What's in the trunk of your car? Don't have a trunk, but in the bed of my truck is a fold-up chair.
Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger? HAMBURGER!

Have fun!

Pictures of the beach .......

I thought these were here yesterday, but I guess the post didn't make it.

Let me try again!!!

The yellow rope behind our heads was to keep people off the dunes. Since we were in Destin FL and Katrina tore up most of the dunes, we had to go to the state park in the area to get dunes in the back ground. Ours at "our" beach were still gone and what was there was yucky red dirt/sand/concrete mixture. Mom can take the rope out in Photoshop. I can too in elements, but she's much better at it and is now retired, so she has more time on her hands than I do!!!

Lovin' this picture of us. Eyes are good, smiles are good, color is pretty good, hair isn't blowing crazy!

The whole clan. Nice picture. Look how all the "khaki's" are different colors. I bought my shorts while I was in FL, got a great deal on them. All three of us (Steve, me and Em) had to have white shirts while we were there .... another good deal!

I'll post more later! Got some funny kissing pictures!

We were at the beach last week ..........

And boy was it nice. Just to get away and not have the same ole schedule. Although Steve and I have come to the conclusion that as long as Em is young, our vacations aren't really a vacation, she just requires a lot of "interaction". But we also deteremined that next year we're either vacationing with another family or taking her a friend. It will leave us with more "us" time. By the way, it was our first time in Destin FL.

We did a mini photo shoot, with the purpose of taking pictures for a Christmas card. I haven't sent out Christmas cards in a while. I figure if I have the picture done already, getting the cards printed will be a snap!

For some reason, I've tried to download a couple of shots for two days now, and can't get them to download to blogger. I'll try it in another post.

There are pictures of all of us (my mom, dad, Steve, Em and me.) Those pictures were taken by a nice lady on the beach that was helping set up for a wedding. She did a pretty good job. We passed a family arriving on the beach when we were leaving to have their pictures made... they had a photographer following them. When we got back to the condo, we downloaded our pictures and everyone agreed that we probably saved ourselves $300, because our pictures were so good! I can't wait to get some of them printed and framed. I have a really good shot of my cute hubby .... it's going in a frame on my desk!

Gotta run and read a book (I'm on a reading kick - just finished a James Patterson book Violets are Blue it was really good!)