Bye Bye 2010...

Don't let the door hit you on the way out! What a year its been. It has been mostly good but I'm ready to see what 2011 has in store for us. We went to Perry for Christmas on the 18th, the Peggy's on the 19th, then for the first time in 15 years of marriage we had the Grizzle clan over on Christmas Eve. I must admit this was the best Christmas I have had in more than 25 years. The first time since my parents divorced. I believe in tradition so every year all the hassle involved makes me crazy. Christmas was very smooth this year and it was easier to remember we were celebrating the birth of Jesus and nothing else.

We have been off week this week, my kids have been great. Santa brought us Glee Karaoke so we fight over who gets to sing, the kids got me Wheel of Fortune for the Wii so they have been fighting with Ricky and I over who gets to play it. If I didn't have a job I would be so sorry, playing on the Wii all day.

Our house is clean so we have just picked up after ourselves everyday so we don't even have to clean the house. Beulah is going to be depressed when our schedules return to normal next week and she is home alone again. This morning I went to work for a few hours and she was in her crate when I left with both kids sitting in the living room. She is so afraid she may get left out.

My kids were out of school three days of the last five before Christmas break for snow and ice. Of course we had snow on Christmas Day so the kids have played outside all week. I've had enough snow to last me until next year!

That's all for now! Happy New Year!

Christmas is Coming the Goose is Getting Fat...

That's my favorite Muppet Christmas song. I keep the cd in my desk drawer and listen to it from time to time. I'm just weird like that. Well last week mom and I took Brance, Annie and James Brian to Disney. We had fun with the kids, Disney was decorated so beautiful for Christmas but our resort had a lot of problems, our dining plan didn't work, our room wasn't clean, our park tickets wouldn't work, and the list continues. Out of four park days, we managed about two and a half days in the parks. We did everything in the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, a few rides in Animal Kingdom and a few rides in Epcot but none of the countries and the countries are my favorite part. I would like to visit next year during the first two weeks of December without kids so I can look at everything. We were there with some of the Thanksgiving crowd and it was way too much for me. Although the weather was perfect, I did have a verbal disagreement on one of the rides so James Brian was scared to death but didn't ever seen homesick. He just thinks I really crazy. I looked for Ashton Kutcher the whole time I was there because I was positive Ricky was having me punk'd but it never happened. Disney offered me a nice credit but it still hasn't made it to my credit card yet.

Annie is cheering most everyday and Brance is wrestling everyday. We have three more week of school then we are out for two. Brance stayed in Perry when we came back and Ricky picked him up on Thursday.

My grandma has been sick again, I didn't get to see her on Thanksgiving, she was in the hospital. Mom and Michelle got to pick her up but I had left before they made it back with her.

For most of the weekend we have piled up on the sofa watching Lifetime movies. We have finally changed to the ABC Family channel for a family Christmas movie.

I am having Ricky's family over for Christmas Eve this year. Ricky said I have gotten out of it for 15 years so its time I host it. Easy for him to say. At least we are off from work for the day so we can spend it getting things together.

That's all for now.

Did you think I was lost?

Its been a month or more since I last blogged, well I think I have a minute to update now. The kids are so busy, Annie made the middle school basketball cheerleading squad, Brance is wrestling and this doesn't include their weekly tennis practice. We think our lives are on hold for the next five years, I'm sure it will go by quick.

I have decided to boycott college football this season but came off my boycott to watch UGA and UF today. I'm not sure why, I just thought it could be enjoyable, two bad teams, something good has to come out of it. Our heat has been broken, when the guy came to fix it he told Ricky he had to order a part so Ricky told him just to leave everything unhooked, little did we know it would be 96% humidity most of the week and we wouldn' t be able to use the air conditioner either. Wednesday night I went with some church friends to see Carrie Underwood, she is incredible, I'm pretty sure she is the sexiest chick I have ever seen. Anyway for the concert I had to sacrifice some sleep so I have only managed about 3 or 4 hours each night this week with the heating/cooling issue we had. Jeremy got the heat fixed this morning so hopefully I can sleep good tonight.

Annie went to a sleep over and Brance and Ricky are most likely going fishing. I have a lot I need to do in the house but nothing I want to do. Mom and I are taking the kids and James Brian to Disney on the 17th. I'm sure I'll wait to the weekend before to get anything done. Annie has all of her laundry washed, folded and put away. She was up at 5:30 am working on it so she could go to the party. Brance and I have just been lazy today. Annie has practice a few nights each week but will begin practice four days each week until January. Brance has practice everyday. They are both so tired when the get home that sometimes they just go to bed and get up early to finish their homework.

Ricky is behaving, for the most part. He and Brance are doing a lot of fishing. This allows Annie and I to go to bed really early when they are gone.

I find that I forget to type because I'm trying to watch the ballgame. So I'm update again soon.

Big Changes for Us...

After nearly 30 years, Wayne Morris Ford has been sold to the Ragan Family. Its now, David Ragan Ford. We hope that daddy and Margarett will eventually retire. They have worked for so long they don't know what to do with themselves. I told them they could go to Alabama and visit with Eric but it won't hurt my feelings if they don't come visit us. I'm so glad I'm not in Perry because this is a pretty tough transition for us to get used too. I dread pulling up at the dealership and my daddy's name not being on the building. I will see it in October when I take the kids to the fair. Michelle and Daddy tell me the Ragans are the most wonderful family and they could not have sold to anyone better. As a matter of fact my entire family, not us, are sitting in the suite at Atlanta Motor Speedway tonight and tomorrow with the Ragans. I didn't care about Atlanta, I want to race in Vegas in March. In Atlanta I wouldn't have Michelle to myself, when we go to Vegas I have her to myself and its a great feeling. The only time in the last 17 years, when Cyd was born that I get Michelle 100%. Kids and husbands are great but I need a little one on one sister time every few years. It was a very sad day last December when my Papa died but afterwards, Brian and Michelle, Michael and Brandi, and Ricky and I all ate a nice dinner together. Its sad we don't get together more often.

Last night Ricky and I went to Collinsville, Alabama to the flea market and came back today. We had such a great time. I'm sure you know that flea market and fair folks are a different breed of people. Well Alabama flea market people are like aliens. They all wear U of A shirts with overalls. Most big, burly men carry little sissy dogs, one rather large man, think Grizzly Adams, wearing overalls had a puppy stuck in the top of his overall with one paw hanging out the side and one paw and chin resting on the bib part. I couldn't stop staring. Probably 25% of the folks there were walking around carrying shotguns or rifles. I'm not sure what that was about. Ricky asked me about the guns too. The flea market has everything from concessions to yard sale items and plenty of dogs (more breeds than you can imagine), cats, pigs, rabbits, goats, horses, chickens, lizards, turtles, peacocks and a variety of other farm creatures that you can purchase. I have never seen anything like it in my 38 years.

My kids are good, school is off to a great start. The boys are fishing and Annie is doing who knows what in her room. Ricky and I were at the flea market at 6 am today so I'm going to bed really early tonight.

What A Week!

School is back in session and pre-k is in full swing so of course I had to get the once a year sickness that I get every year. I went to a pre-k conference on July 19th and have been sick since. Of course as long as I could walk and breath I won't go to the doctor. Last Saturday I was so miserable I couldn't get out of the bed. My doctor called in an antibiotic for me, I wasn't any better on Wednesday so I didn't go to work but to the doctor. Strep, sinus infection, double ear infection and bronchitis. He added a second antibiotic and a steroid. This was the 18th, he told me on August 19th last year he treated me for the exact same thing. You would think I would learn to go get medical treatment when I start getting sick. Who has time for that?

Work is busy but good. My kids are both in middle school and so far so good. Brance and Ricky got a nicer fishing boat so I'm not seeing a lot of them lately. Tonight they are fishing and Annie went to a friends so I'm a little lost by myself.

Last Sunday a few girlfriends and I went to the Elvis Fest in Pigeon Forge. It was a lot of fun, we ate at the best restaurant ever. I ordered something so unlike anything I would normally order and loved it. I begged Ricky to take me this weekend just for lunch. He had flagging class this morning so he had to decline. I didn't sleep good last night both kids had spend the night company so we were up late and up early. The steroid has made me a little crazy so I can't rest very well. I have about three hours worth of Gaither Homecomings to watch on tv tonight so at least I'll have some worship before I attempt to go to sleep.

Annie is wanting to go to Universal in a few months if you have any information about it to share with me. I'm a Disney girl and don't know anything about Universal.

If I blog once a month, maybe I can keep up

Its been so long I almost forgot all about my blog. Well the summer sure has flown by. The kids decided to give up the beach for a camping trip. We took Vernon and Tammy's motor home to Fall Creek Falls State Park in Pikeville, TN for a few days. It was definitely different. The guys rode bikes to fish everyday and Annie and I walked a mile to the pool. They have five different waterfalls with trails to each. We decided not to walk the trails since the Rattlesnake and Copperhead count is very high in the park. Just a few days before we arrived someone on one of the trails was bitten by a Copperhead. There isn't any phone or internet service so how would you get help if you got bite by a snake! The RV did have an antenna for the tv but we were parked under the biggest tree in the park so tv was out of the question. The VCR wasn't connected and it didn't have a cord so we didn't even watch a movie. We did get to listen to the radio while we were there. Ricky said we were the only family in the entire park that cooked and ate all of our meals inside. It was 100 degrees outside so I'm thrilled to have the luxury of air conditioning. We had a lot of family time together. Ricky doesn't enjoy playing board games or cards games. Once we allowed him to deal us some blackjack and poker he was good to go. This trip was definitely something we won't forget and will do again.

Ricky, Brance, Daddy and I are signed up to run the Warrior Dash in May 2011. We hope that we can borrow the motor home once again. We are interested in buying a travel trailer if we can get a great deal on something used.

School starts on Wednesday the 11th. I told Annie I would take her shopping tomorrow for school shoes. Nothing like waiting for the last minute. We are going to Holly Springs in the morning to see Missy's new tanning salon and boutique. I'll take Annie to those stores since school has already started there and we hope there won't be a crowd.

After a long week I'm ready to get in the bed. Beulah has been sleeping with the kids all week so I have slept really good.

Happy 4th of July!

As any other 4th I spent it eating lunch with my sister at my grandma's house. Grandma cooked everything Michelle and I love, we eat like hogs and drive home. The kids were pretty loud today so we didn't stay so long. We came home and they went to the mall. I can't afford to shop since I went to Las Vegas, I need to save my money for a while now.

Brance made it home from a week at CentriFuge. This church camp is life changing for teens and young adults. He had so much fun last year and this year he can't wait to go back. He took a friend and a few of our adult friends went as counselors, also our pastor and his wife. The counselors room with the kids and they all stay together for their activities. This makes it really comfortable for me. Annie leaves tomorrow for CentriKid at Toccoa Falls College. Next year she will be old enough to go to Fuge with Brance. Both kids gone at the same time, Ricky and I will have to go out of town together!

I realized today that I don't have a Disney trip planned for the fall. I usually have one scheduled for the fall by this time of year, it makes me a little sad. Maybe I can pull something together but I also want to go back to Vegas with Michelle and Brian so Disney maybe out this year. Ricky and Brance hunt the entire week of Thanksgiving so hopefully Annie and I can find something cheap to do for fun.


I have to go upstairs to help Annie pack for camp. Ricky and Brance are fishing as usual. Ricky is off tomorrow and I have to work. I don't think I like that very much.

Been to Vegas Baby...

Well we have been to Vegas and the Hoover Dam and back with money in our pockets! Most of you know about my horrible plane ride that has tramatized me for life, little did I know that a little Valium would make it all better. I'm ready to fly anywhere now. Ricky and I went to Las Vegas with his brother and his wife, Tammy and Vernon, I call him Bubba. They were a lot of fun and easy to get along with, very flexible and I like flexible folks. So I got past my fear of flying, then I went way down in the dam in those long dark tunnels with our dam guide telling us ghost stories and all sorts of things that would normally cause me to freak out but I didn't. I even looked through the window at the bottom of the dam, no I wasn't going to get close enough to look over from the outside but I felt safe looking through the window. Then I got to ride on the float for the Parade in the Sky at the Rio, last time we were there you could wear a costume and dance on the float now you just buckle in a seat, no costume and no dancing. I was disappointed but still enjoyed it. Tammy took some pictures of me but she accidently erased two days worth of pictures from her camera trying to delete one thing so no pictures on me! She also took the greatest picture of me with Freddy Kruger and deleted it too! She offered to go out with me again on the last night to find him but it was about midnight there so about 3 am for my body and I really just wanted to go to bed.

Ricky was happy I planned the trip but was most excited about my good behavior! He said I was really easy to get along with, didn't complain and was very sweet. He was most excited when Bubba and Tammy suggested we eat at the Outback after walking a million miles and knowing I hate the Outback, I just smiled and said that sounds great! He has two years to plan something so great for me, lets see what he comes up with.

I really hope we can go back in the fall with Michelle and Brian. She walks with me all day and we don't really see our husbands until we leave to go back to the airport to fly home. They are knowing for playing blackjack for 12 straight hours. Michelle and I just goof off and go a lot of places our husbands could care less about going. We do gamble but not with our husbands. The guys say it causes bad luck.

Brance leaves in the morning for church camp at Ridgecrest. This is his second year. He is so exciting about going. Annie goes to Toccoa Falls College next week for church camp. Next year Annie will be old enough to go to the same camp with Brance. Ricky and I are counting the days that we have an entire week without fussing and fighting in the house.

Happy Birthday to Us!

I am offically married to an old man, Ricky is 40! That used to seen so old but as I have turned 38 and I'm knocking on the door to 40, it doesn't seems old any longer. Ricky and I were invited to a graduation party on Friday for a high school friend of his in Gainesville, the kids stayed with a friend so we didn't have to drag them to a bar. We stayed a few hours and came home. It was very nice for Ricky to see a handful of friends that he hasn't seen in about 10 years.

I have a HUGE surprise planned this coming weekend for Rickys birthday. I chose this weekend because of Annie playing All Stars, once I got everything planned, All Stars changed their schedule to this weekend also. Ricky will be sad not to see Annie play ball but I know he will love his surprise. Its very hard to plan and pack for you and your spouse when he has no idea we are going anywhere. I'm so excited I won't be able to sleep all week.

The kids and I went to the grocery store today. I HATE taking the kids with me. I gave them each a list of about 10 items on it so they each got a small cart and took off, we managed to shop in less than 20 minutes and check out without any argument. They are so funny to buy name brand items that I buy and store brand items on things that are less important.

Ricky walked with me yesterday t 6:30 am for my birthday. I was thrilled to have him with me but a little sad not to have my girl time with my friends. Yes, my friend went too.

It is so hot outside today. I drove the Galaxie to church with the top down and was soaked with sweat when I got home, I just put that car straight in the garage until the fall. We drove the Mustang to the grocery store and Brance didn't understand why I wouldn't put the top down, I like the cold air.

Next week I'll have new photos to post, I'm sure you are tired of seeing the picture with Michelle and Michael!

Happy Birthday to Us!

Long Time No Post..

I still don't have any pictures to post because I can barely get myself dressed and out of the house, muchless remember to carry a camera around. Lets see where I've been, of course the Warrior Dash, the Best Fricking Day of My Life! Annie had the camera and only took pictures of herself. Daddy and I stayed together, Jaime's time was 31:50, daddy 38:25 and I had 38:30. Amy, Heather and Robin finished a few minutes behind me. It was so much fun, more fun I think because I was with daddy. I can't wait to do it again and the next time I'm going to work hard to have a good time. Daddy really enjoyed himself also.

School is finally out and summer camp at DCD begins tomorrow. I have no idea what is happening. This is the first time I've been totally out of the loop with summer camp so we will just see what tomorrow brings.

Michelle, Grayson and James Brian came up on Saturday for two nights. We had a great time together since we haven't seen each other since Christmas. I cleaned out my closet and she took home a trunk load of clothes and shoes right off my hangers. We haven't done that in forever. I laughed and said we were acting like our aunts Faye and Judy.

Brance and Annie both got several awards at school, honor roll, highest GPA's, etc. no need to brag on my smart kids. They will be moving on to 8th grade and 6th grade. I can't believe how time flies.

Ricky and I both have birthdays next week. I have a HUGE suprise for Ricky's birthday. I can't wait to share it with him and I can't wait to tell all of you in blog land about it. Actually its the weekend after his birthday so its still a couple of weeks away.

The boys are fishing were they are most everyday when Ricky gets home from work. They enjoy themselves so much. Its easy for me because if they aren't home I don't have to cook for them either. I did go to the grocery store today after Michelle left, then Annie and I have laid around all day. She actually has slept on and off all day. She went to a spend the night party last night and must not have slept much. She says she is a little sick at her head and stomach. She's quite is all I know.

I guess that's enough for now.

I'm Not Real Sure Where to Start...

as I'm not sure where I have been. Over the last month my life has turned into an emotional roller coaster. Why? I wish I had the answer. Work, what a wild day, one child fell on the monkey bars and busted her mouth and nose, her bottom teeth went through her bottom lip, one screaming child not getting his way in my office for a little while, NACCRRA with a new attendance form I had to figure out, no lunch break or potty break for me. I left at 1:15 for Annie's DARE Graduation so at least I got out of there. Ricky and Brance are fishing again, Annie and mom are at the NGCSU Saints softball game. My house is so quite, I didn't run or tan today. Actually I haven't walked in a few days so we are meeting early in the am to walk.

We have had an easy week, Annie only had one game (last night), I had my follow up at the cardiologist, he said I wasn't the youngest in his practice but I was the healthiest. I have to see him again in five years unless something changes. My roller coaster ride today has left me so tired. If I go to bed now I will just be awake about midnight and then I'll make everyone here crazy. I am reading a Donald Trump book. So far so good but I'm not rich yet. Of course he is going to tell me how to be I just haven't gotten that far yet.

I am really in need of a vacation. I wanted to go to Jax for Memorial Day but Brandi is graduating and we wouldn't miss that for the world. I am excited that we finally got the school calendar for next year and our last day of school will be on May 20th, that means there won't be any missing graduation for Chase or Cydney. We will be able to do both without any arguments between us. If everything could be so easy.

I'm just rambling on. This is sad but a little funny. In Annie's classroom today they were given Sprites with pop tops to drink. The boy sitting beside Annie said his family collects pop tops and they have them in bug jugs at his house. When I asked why he told me his "Granny is on probation and everytime she takes a Dixie cup full of them to her probation officer, they shave five hours off her time", yes, I was speechless. Funny yes but so sad.

I got an email from the Warrior Dash Gang

I am so excited about it. Daddy and Margarett are going to spend the night in Mountain City, I'm sure its so that he doesn't have to ride back to Perry all muddy. Last week we started walking the resevoir in town. It is the hardest 3 1/2 miles I have walked. The trail is very pretty but also very steep in some places. It was much easier the second time I went. Yesterday Jaime and Brance ran most of it and Annie and I walked behind them. We still managed to walk it in one hour. I need to do it several times each week so I can manage the Warrior Dash. Jaime is very encouraging, she may run ahead but comes back to me, she doesn't get upset with me she just keeps encouraging me. I want to do it everyday but I don't have time for that. In the next few weeks I have to start running further everyday.

We have been pretty busy lately. Brance's ball is finished, Annie's has started. Last Thursday Ricky and I had our 15th anniversary, can you believe he has lived with me for that long? We had planned to go to Collinsville, Alabama junkin' but once we saw the weather was expected to get bad we changed our mind. I had the kids and the dog all set up too! I am planning a big 40th birthday suprise for him in June but I can't talk about it for fear that he will find out. Its hard to schedule an event and plan for child and dog care. Luckily I have friends coming to my house the entire time. Afterall you only turn 40 once!

I got a letter from the cardiologist that my tests were unremarkable. I still go back on May 12th to see the doctor.

My sister has done a great job keeping my backgrounds current, you would think I could do something about the photo of the three of us from Christmas. At least Michelle hasn't decided to put one of herself up! I'm sure I just gave her the motivation she needed.

All the interior and exterior house remodel is complete, new roof, new bedroom for Annie and lots of new paint. Surely my savings account can recover. If I could get the rest of the house cleaned up it would look great.

Well I guess that's all for now. Its my momma's birthday today! I offered to cook supper for her but she didn't want what I was having so she is eating at home, alone. We will most likely take her to eat this weekend.

I haven't given up on my little project although many expect that I will fail. Keep praying for God's will.

Spring Break Week

is almost over. Brance had his last baseball game on Saturday at Rabun Middle. He played the enitre second game and did a great job. After the game we went over the mountain to Gatlinburg, we were already half way there anyway. We were late getting into town as Ricky, Brance and I are junkers and we stop to look at every road side thing along the way. We stayed at the same condo again with the great indoor pool area for the kids to play.

When Jaime and I were there in January and I met my new best friend, Melinda in a bar, well she is in the Country Tonight Show so she made reservations for us for Sunday night. The show was good but Melinda is fantastic! She is the best singer in the house. Brance and Annie enjoyed it and we got to talk to Melinda for a few minutes after the show.

For Easter, yes just like Santa Claus the Easter Bunny finds you if you aren't at home. Sadly Annie's Easter Basket was left to close to the fireplace and the chocolate rabbit melted. We went to the Blackwood Breakfast Show for Easter morning, I loved it, the kids liked it and I think Ricky tolerated it. Its a gospel show, I was excited that my kids knew all the gospel songs they were singing. The food was marginal but I would definately go see it again. I'll about some Gospel Music in the Smokies.

Last night Brance spent the night with Grandma Alice, Annie went to Trinity's and Ricky had an archery tournament. I didn't know what to do at home by myself for three hours. This morning the house was really quite and Beulah kept looking for the kids and couldn't find them anywhere, she is pretty pitiful!

Well this is my last weekend to use the big dumpster in the driveway so we have a lot of cleaning to do. Ricky told me this morning that he didn't care what I did tomorrow but he wasn't getting out of the bed until at least 7 am. I don't believe him.

WARRIOR DASH!

Yesterday I went to Annie's school for her nine week CARE ceremony. I talked to Daphney about running and a few events around Atlanta and she recommended the Warrior Dash so I checked it out and signed Jaime and I up for it. After talking to my daddy this morning, I signed him up too! The Warrior Dash is a 3.22 miles 11 obstacle adventure race. Their description is actually Americas Most Insane Race, 11 obstacles from hell. I am so excited about it. I have never done anything like this. My friends know that I don't really like the outdoors and I really don't like to be dirty. On the race I will have to crawl through mud to finish. YUCK! Ricky thinks I will never make it but Brance is positive I will. He has me on a training regime since I have exactly two months to prepare. Brance said he will check the distance on the motorcross track today and I can just start running it everyday instead of using the eliptical or treadmill. Of course he isn't here so I'm on the computer. It is a little to windy for me outside anyway.

Brance's room is completely painted. I hope that Mike will have his bed ready by next weekend. He will need a new mattress and boxspring so I can get that in town and have it delievered next week when I'm ready for it. We still have the 30 yard dumpster in our driveway and its not even half full yet. Our contractor said he won't have it picked up until we tell him that we are ready. We have three ball games tomorrow so I won't get to work much in the house until Sunday afternoon.

Well enough blogging for me, Annie and I have to grocery shop.

So Michelle is ahead of me...

I haven't had time to sit down muchless catch up. We are so thankful Brance only has one week of ball left. I am really tired of these double headers on Saturday. He is still practicing everyday and being very tired the entire time. I can't wait for it to end. Annie is still practicing but only once a week, I'm so glad Ricky takes her to this. I just can't stay awake.

If you have rode by my house than I'm sure you are wondering what's going on. We are having a lot of work done. The new roof is finished and the tear out in Annie's room is completed with only painting left. Brance is getting his room painted and the kitchen is getting a paint job. Living in a house this long requires a lot of up keep that I will never be ready for. I'm all for selling and moving every few years but Ricky isn't up for that.

I don't really have a lot of time so I better get off here for now.

Well the week is starting kind of rough...

I had to pick Brance up early from school yesterday. A combination of asthma and lack of rest. I've told y'all this before Brance requires a lot of sleep, when he doesn't get it he throws up. Baseball is consuming him. His feet hit the floor at 6 am everyday, he eats lunch at school at 10:30 am, he has an afternoon snack sometime before starting practice five days a weeks until 5:30 pm, bath, dinner and homework. I can't tell you the last time he went to sleep before 9 pm. With that said, now he is sick. His asthma is always bad once ball season starts. Yesterday we went to the doctor, he already takes Singular and Claritin, now we are switching from Claritin to Zyrtec, going back to Advair (once a day) and Albuterol before any exercise. YUCK! He is really congested but he was on a strong antibitoic in December for the staff infection so his doctor is hesitant to give him another one. An oral steriod would knock this mess out overnight but he was on an oral steriod three times last year so we can't do that yet either. Poor Brance is really dragging. He came in from practice, took his shower, ate dinner and was in tears walking up the steps to his bedroom to go to sleep. He will have to do his homework before school in the morning. He should be asleep before I finish this tonight so he will get about 10 or 11 hours of sleep. That's a start but far from where he needs to be. I pray the ran will come in and keep him from practing for the next few days. He does have a game in Flowery Branch on Thursday night.

Annie has practice tonight at 7:30 pm. She will most likely be asleep before they get to the ball field. I know that I'll go to sleep pretty quick after they leave. Although our feet hit the floor by 6 am every day, its rare that I sleep past 4:30 am. I usually just read my book or aggreviate the Good Lord with all of my problems.

I've had two nice days at work, a few of us started a little prayer circle before we open the center. This at least helps us to get our day off to a great start and I think its a great habit to get into. I love working with girls that love Jesus like I do. The best part of it as we are rushing around to get out the door and both kids fussing, I don't take talk time to talk to God, I'm sure when Annie is ranting about something and I say, Jesus help me, that's doesn't really count as prayer time. By having the prayer circle at work I know that I'll have a few minutes before I start work.

I'm still working on my plan. God hasn't slammed the door in my face yet. Keep your prayers going. Also the last two weeks at church we have had about 125 people, a lot of them are visitors. We are so glad for the work God is doing in that place. Come visit us if you aren't already attending a church. Look us up at www.foothillsfellowship.com
We start at 10 am and get out a few minutes after 11 am. Lot of good music and great fellowship! We are all sinners, saved by grace.

Ricky finally got his bionic eye...

Well at least that's what we call it! Ricky has a perfect eye with 20/20 vision and a not so good eye. He has glasses and contacts but complains that his depth preception is different with both. So he wanted to have lazer surgery to correct it. Well you know what I think about cosmetic surgery so I was all for this correction. The hurry up and wait took two hours but the actually procedue only took 60 seconds and I got to watch it on the big screen in the waiting area. They gave Ricky a 10 mg Valuim before surgery but he said he couldn't tell it did anything. I have four Valuim that the doctor gave me for a flying trip and we decided not to go. Ricky said 10 mg wouldn't do it for me. I'm so glad he knows that about me! Anyway now we say Ricky has a bionic eye and we told my daddy that he can see through girls clothes so of course daddy wants to have it done!

I became a fan of While your stabbing me in the back you can kiss my ass too, on facebook. I think this is the best fan page yet.

My week has went quickly we closed an entire day for snow and didn't have pre-k on one of the days. How nice is that, it gave me some time to get some paperwork done. Some days I am just slammed with stuff to do and it seems its all at one time.

Brance has his first middle school game tomorrow. He has a double header starting at 12:30 pm, Annie has practice at 10:30 am, Ricky is helping coach so I'll just have to make it to the ballfield for Brance's game. There goes my Saturday!

Have a great weekend.

Where Does the Time Go?

Lets see, what has happened lately? Brance made the middle school baseball team! Annie starts softball practice next Tuesday. We will be running is a lot of different directions over the next two months. Luckily Brance's season only lasts five weeks and Annie should be finished by the end of May. Grandma is finally back home, alone and appears to be doing some better.

Last week my kids were out of school the entire week for Presidents Day so on Thursday mom and I took them to Pigeon Forge for a few days. We stayed in a condo with a nice indoor water area and a few water slides. Mom cooked breakfast for us each day and we had a really good time. Probably the best time we have had in a while.

Of course Ricky stayed home to work. Somebody has to make some money. Michelle changed my background, thank you Michelle! State Farm has finally agreed to put a new roof on my house! I filed a claim last July over some storm damage. A lot of the shingles have fallen off the house. Water is pouring in Annies bedroom. State Farm denied the claim. Of course I won't take no for an answer so I argued with them until they sent someone else back out here. A different claim person came yesterday, she was incredible and really knew what she was doing. She told me they were going to replace the entire roof and I would know the entire settlement by Friday for the interior work. We have water leaks in the living room, both kids bathrooms, nine different places in Annies bedroom, and water leaks in both of the bonus rooms. The way she talked, Annies room is going to have to be totally gutted and started all over. YUCK! This is going to be worse for us than when we had the hardwood installed everywhere downstairs and we moved upstairs for two months. I'm really dreading the mess this is going to be. Sometime I have to get everything in the bonus room organized and moved to the basement as well as packing up Annies room and moving her into the living room. She loves to sleep on the sofa so this will be great for her. Plus Beulah likes to sleep on the sofa with her so I will be able to sleep good and have room to move around.

Well its time to get some supper started, Brance will be hungry when he gets home any minute now.

I haven't been Blog-Jacked yet!

My sister hasn't changed my background yet, she is usually on top of things like that. She is in Banner Elk, NC on a ski trip with Grayson so I'm sure that's why she hasn't high jacked my blog yet. She said they have a lot of snow. They are coming home tomorrow. Can you believe Perry got as much snow as North Georgia? I think Michelle said it was the first snow in about 20 years and the most recorded. I think that's exciting. We were in Las Vegas several years ago when it snowed there for the first time in nearly 30 or 40 years. Right now the sun is shining and the sky is clear.

Annie went to Atlanta with Heather today and Brance has stayed home with Ricky. We didn't have a lot of kids at the preschool so it was a fairly easy day for everyone. Mom and I are taking the kids out of town Thursday. Ricky doesn't need to take off, his brother is planning to leave for Jackson Hole, WY tomorrow for a few days with his family. Ricky and I are going to Collinsville, Alabama for our anniversary in April so sometime after that we will take a trip with our kids as a family. We make sure we do something as a family at least once a year. That's about all the time we can stand to be all together! ha-ha! We really enjoy different things as our kids do, we go to church together every week and we are all home most every night during the week and on weekends so we have a lot of family time together. The kids and I like to travel and Ricky doesn't. We can't stay at home forever because he doesn't want to go anywhere with us. My kids are out of school all week for winter break. I love this school calendar, the next school year has been published and its great also!

Well its time to make the doughnuts! Always something to do...

Ball Season has Started!

I can't believe its already time. Brance started try outs today for middle school ball. That sounds so old to me. He said they take 18 out of about 40 trying out, 7th and 8th graders. I told him not to get hyped up incase he doesn't make it. I signed Annie up for park and rec softball today. I think it will start in a few weeks.

I've been a little sad today. I can't seem to shake it and I don't really have anything to be sad about. Sometimes I guess I just wear my feelings on my sleeves and I know that I shouldn't, afterall I'm 37 years old, you would think I would learn by now. Its alright I'll be over it in a few days.

I am feeling 100% better today! Good enough to exercise. I had to pick Brance up in town at 5:30 pm so that we all got home at the same time tonight and all of us too hungry to wait for me to cook something for supper. I had chicken laid out but as I sat by the loaded chicken truck at the red light it kind of took my desire to eat chicken tonight away!

We are watching our new favorite show, American Pickers. After this is Pawn Stars, we love this history channel stuff. I think that makes us sound like old married people. We are just a few months away from celebrating 15 years and guess what we are going to do? We are going to Collinsville, Alabama to the Collinsville Flea Market! It opens at 4:30 am on Saturday, they are an hour behind us so we can start junkin' at 5:30 am! We are so excited! Ricky wants to drive the Excursion in case we find some good stuff, he is really worse than I am. We are so sad, some people want a nice evening of romance and Ricky and I get all excited over a flea market.

10 Kids NOT YET!

The kids didn't keep up their end of the bargain so no kids yet. Unfortunately for me they have worked in their rooms all day so I may be in for this weekend.

Anytime I have strep or Missy had strep the other one of us gets it. We only talk on the phone and I know it isn't possible for our germs to carry through the phone line but it does. So I've really been sick for more than a week so I sent Missy a text yesterday telling her I couldn't have any contact with her until I got better. Apparently talking to my sister sent the germs my way. I did start an antibiotic yesterday. Last week my daddy had to spend a few nights in the hospital to have some tests run. When I finally got in touch with Missy to let her know, her daddy was in the hospital for a blood clot in his leg. I'm telling you whatever happens to one of us it just happens to the other one, we even got pregnant about the same time! Both of our dads are home and doing much better. My daddy is 100% and Trammell is still working on getting there.

I stayed with the grandma on Friday. She bought all of her stuff home from Peggys and said she isn't going back. This is horrible for Peggy because she will worry about her all the time. Sadly I think the sooner she falls and breaks something the sooner we can all rest. I know that sounds terrible but she has no short term memory, she can't even dial the phone unless she finds the numbers I wrote down beside the phone. I didn't have to straighten chicken feathers or hunt snakes this week, I just had to look under the beds and in the closets to make sure nobody was hiding in there. Now how she is going to stay there alone, I don't know. But I know that God is going to take care it and I just have to let it go.

Ricky left early yesterday for a bow shoot in North Carolina, I had to make a trip into Canton to pick something up, about the time I was getting in the car to start home, mom called and the transmission was out of her car. She was less than 10 minutes from hom but still stranded. I called Darlene to pick her up, she took her to my house where she got my Mustang. I drove the Excursion because the weather was bad and the Mustang slides all over the place. Anyway, Michael is going to get her car picked up and fixed this week and she will keep driving my car. She hasn't driven it before and she loves it. She told me today that she took her big coat with her so if its 50 degrees when she leaves work she can put the top down. I'm glad she is enjoying it. She finally made it to gmas after 1 pm yesterday.

We didn't go to church today. I have just been coughing my head off and didn't want to cough all during the service. I stayed in the bed for a while then finally put my sheets in to wash, I've just been on the sofa the rest of the day. Sooner or later I'll get up and take a shower I just don't really have the energy for that. I need to exercise but I don't want to do that either!

10 Kids Am I Crazy?

I told my kids they could each have 5 kids over on Friday or Saturday to spend the night! Apparently I was thinking when I said this. If they come Saturday they all have to go to church on Sunday, I'll just get the bus from the preschool and we will go like a big happy family. Ricky didn't say a word he knows I'm crazy.

No snow for us Friday night and not enough ice to keep us at home on Saturday. We went to Home Depot for a new dryer and the boys got me all hooked up. My clothes actually dry in about 35 minutes instead of four hours.

Annie doesn't feel so good so I went to church by myself yesterday. I came home to get Annie and we went by the mall on our way to meet daddy at the funeral home. His cousin passed away and the family is just the sweetest people ever so I met Wayne and Margarett in Smyrna. Afterward we took Annie to Cumberland Mall that looks nothing like the days I went there. They have updated it and taken all the water fountains out. It has a lot of teen/junior stores, nothing for boring adults like me. We ate at Maggios, I don't think I'm spelling it right. Ricky ate the left over spaghetti when I got home and seemed to really enjoy it.

I've already exercised so now I'm just playing until I can decide to cook some supper. My kids are probably ready to eat, its been a long day for all of us.

Rain is better than snow...

It has been raining since sometime during the night. I'd much rather have rain than snow, except I think it may storm today and I don't like storms at all. I had another great Friday with my grandma. She didn't mumble or really do anything crazy this week. She did want me to check our beds for snakes before we got in them. She said she worried since she hasn't been home a lot that snakes may have gotten in her covers while she was away. I checked the beds and no snakes! She acted sensible when she told me stuff and didn't talk about dead people either. Annie spent the night with Cricket and Brance left early Saturday morning to go to Snow Mountain with his friend, he still isn't home yet but I think on his way. I met mom and Annie in Canton yesterday. I finally got a new pair of tennis shoes. I'm sure they will make me go a lost faster on the eliptical, wishful thinking I know. I've been sleeping really good since I've been routinely exercising. This lifestyle change is making my life more enjoyable. As a matter of fact I'm sure that last week was on of the best weeks I've had in a long, long time. I did a lot of cleaning in my office at school. I still have a long way to go but I've got all the cabinets cleaned out and most of the drawers.

This rain all day makes me sleepy. Its been a while since I took a Sunday nap and today just might be the day. Ricky is watching some goofy Larry the Cable Guy movie on tv and Annie is doing who knows what in her room. She is supose to be putting her laundry away but I wouldn't bet on it.

I'm still working on my business plan. I haven't given up hope yet. I know that God has a plan and I am waiting patiently. Keep praying for His will.

Back in the swing of things...

I really would like for my kids just to go to school for an entire week. Last week they were out Friday, Monday and Tuesday for inclement weather. Today they have MLK day. I went out of town with Jaime and Ricky stayed home with both kids. He let Brance go to a friends house and let Annie have a friend over. They also picked up the house and cleaned the kitchen. Suprisingly, they acted like they missed me. Ricky is great to let me go off with friends each year. I take the kids off a lot, he and I go off once a year together and then he and I take the kids off once a year. I know this is weird it just works for us. Ricky does archery tournaments, once nightly during the week and most every Sunday after church. Some tournaments are out of town and some last two days. The kids and I stay at home so I think that's why he is so willing to want me to go off for girl time without them.

It has finally warmed up outside. I don't like the freezing cold and I'm sure it will be back much sooner than we want. Its nice to come home and be able to warm up.

I'm finally winning the battle with my eliptical. It knows that I am in charge, I have to remind myself constantly. It is the hardest piece of exercise equipment I have ever used. I hate exercising but battling with the eliptical encourages me to exercise. I won't let it get the best of me. Brance has used it some but decided it was easier to run on the treadmill so that's what he has been doing.

I am really sleepy today. I'm doing everything I can think of to stay awake. I have laundry going and thinking about starting something for supper. If I sit still I think I will go to sleep!

When you only have school three days...

the week sure goes by fast! We were out of school for snow Friday, Monday and Tuesday. Of course the preschool was open because we were closed at Christmas and those parents have to get back to work and bring their kids to preschool. I have worked so much since we returned January 4th. This afternoon I worked a little later than normal because Heather is student teaching so her school day lasted a little longer than usual.



I've done really good with my eliptical. I increase my time a little every day. Today my time was the same as yesterday but I increased my steps 125 from yesterday so that was an improvement. Last week it kicked my butt and I'm can't allow a piece of equipment to do that so I took control of it this week. Eli now knows that I'm in charge!



Ricky has an archery tournament tonight so the kids and I will get our baths and get to go to bed early. Actually I'll watch last nights episode of Modern Family that I missed because we were watching American Idol and then I can attempt tp finish my book. Mama Dora's brother wrote a book that I have been reading and I have about 100 pages left. Its called God-Fearing Criminals. It has a lot of Dawson County history in it that I am really enjoying.



I'm going to my favorite place tomorrow, Gatlingburg, after work with another girlfriend. We are staying for the weekend without our husbands or kids! I am so excited! Lots of shopping and eating for me. We are going to Texas Roadhouse tomorrow where I'm eating everything I can and drinking a Coke or maybe two!



My dryer is not working very good. Sometimes it dries and sometimes it doesn't. I hate to spend money to buy another one but I don't have much choice. This is the second one in 15 years so I guess that's not bad considering it runs about 15-20 hours at least each week. The kids have started doing their own laundry so they keep it going when I am not using it.



Enjoy your weekend! Pray for Ricky as he will be home with both kids by himself.

Snow Snow Go Away!

Dear eight pound, six ounce Newborn Baby Jesus, don't even know a word yet, just a little infant, so cuddly but still omnipotent, please dry the ice up so my sweet children can return to school!

We got a little...

SNOW! It looks pretty but I don't really like it!
The kids played outside until after dark last night and there were right back out at 8 am today. At 11:30 am I made them come in to eat lunch and warm up, that lasted about 45 minutes before they went back out until 5 pm. Annie hurt her tail bone and is crappy so she is lying on the love seat moaning and getting mad because we aren't paying any attention to her. Brance is in his room on the phone with one of the Kate's. He had a girlfriend all of last school year and this school year until last week. The Kate's, there are two of them, Kate Ayers and Kate Fitts. They all went to pre-k together and have really been the best of friends since then. Ayers parents take Brance and the Kate's and Chaz another kids from pre-k various places together as a big group. Ricky and Susan are the only ones brave enough to do this, they take them out to eat and to movies and one trip to Atlanta for the World of Coke and a few other places. Anyway since Brance and the girlfriend broke up, he and the Kate's are best buddies again. He is on the phone with one of them all the time. They aren't boyfriend/girlfriend, just buddies. I like them and their parent so that's a good thing. He doesn't tell me a lot I have to depend on Annie to give me the scoop she snopes around to see what he is doing. He told me he and the girlfriend broke up but no details, Annie filled me in!

Well no grandma sitting for me tonight! I couldn't get there if I tried. Ricky and Brance went to Pizza Hut for some $10 pizza's. Now we are just sitting in the living room watching the Singing Bee! I love these singing shows. Tomorrow I guess we will do this same thing all over again. Ricky got some of his laundry done and made a trip to the bank, I got the dogs blankets washed and brushed my teeth. I need to take a bath sometime but I've started playing freecell, thanks to my sister so I can't get anything done for playing it. Everytime Ricky leaves I get on the computer until I see him pull down the driveway and I shut it down real quick so he doesn't know I've been playing the entire time he was gone! Shhh! Don't tell him.

Well enough for now.

Is It Really Going to Snow?

We usually have bad weather just when the kids return to school after the New Year. January 2000, we had been out of school for two weeks, the preschool had been closed more than a week for Christmas and we started school on Monday. The kids were out an additional two weeks on and off for ice. I don't think we had snow, just ice and enough to keep the kids home. I am not mentally stable enough to be in that situation right now. We had the house picked up last week and today it looks like a train wreck! I have someone scheduled to come out to give me an estimate on the roof and to repair the damage in Annie's room but my house to messy to let him come inside. Surely we can get things picked up this week. I don't know about my Friday night at grandma's because we don't know about the weather. Peggy doesn't encourage me to come if the weather is yucky. My uncle Jerry bought them KFC chicken breast for lunch on Saturday, last night Peggy heard gma on the phone telling her friend from church that Jerry had got them the best chicken lungs from KFC. If I don't laugh about what she says I would cry.

I watched Days of Our Lives during Christmas break two times. I love it just as much now as I did in the eight grade when I recorded it and watched it every day. It comes on the Soap Network at 6 pm. So I'm getting to watch it while I'm blogging. I hope to have my eliptical up and elipticalling tomorrow night. I could just exercise for the entire hour if I was hooked on Days again. At least is sounds encouraging.

It sure is cold in North Georgia. My car doesn't have a temperature gage in it like the Expedition did so I never know exactly how cold it is when I leave the house.

Well Days is almost ever so its time for me to more on...

Three days and 500 miles...

The kids and I left on Wednesday for Perry, Ricky came down on Thursday. The kids played at Michelle's house and I just sat at the dealership with Michelle and Daddy for two days. It was a little odd without Ricky there. I don't usually sleep very well the first night or two that I'm away from home but this time I stayed at dad's house. The train tracks are about 1/4 of a mile away and the train runs every 45 minutes! The conductor blows the horn every 45 minutes also. I'm sure he blows the horn for about a mile. I'm not sure why, if I was the conductor I'm sure I would wake up as many people as possible too. The train sounds so lonely to me. So if that wasn't enough they have this pretty decorative pond in the back year that is a breeding ground for every frog in Middle Georgia. All night and all day you hear the frogs making noise. It drove me crazy. When I finally walked out there yesterday they stopped. When I walked away they started again. Bunch of stupid frogs! Annie and I left early yesterday for Friday night grandma sit. At least there I sleep pretty good. Of course I sleep better alone but I had Annie's hot, 100 degree body beside me. She will sure keep your warm on a cold night.

Now we are home and waiting for Ricky and Brance to get here. They left Perry sometime this morning to come home. Daddy and Margarett left for Eric's yesterday so Ricky and Brance just stayed at their house anyway.

I cooked some soup for lunch and I know I must grocery shop today but I'm hoping when Ricky gets home I can take a little nap. Beulah spent the last two nights at momma's house so she is back home and pacing around waiting for someone to lie down with her in the bed.