Fabulous Friday!

I have had a fabulous week and I want to share with you the reasons. Well, OK so maybe it wasn't totally fabulous but if I focus on the good the bad will seem, well, not so bad.

1. Anna let us sleep in twice this week! We didn't get up until 8 and let me tell you that is awesome around here.
2. My hubby was home most nights. Which may not seem like a big deal but between church and work and school some weeks we hardly see him. So this was a real treat for us, one that I hope we will have more of.
3. Anna and I had a vehicle and got to go out and about whenever we wanted.
4. We accomplished a few things around the house (maybe not as many as I hoped but we did ok).
5. We got to run in the rain a lot today. If you don't know it is extremely hot where we live so running in the rain was most certainly FABULOUS!
6. We ran into an old friend. One that use to keep Anna for a few months.
7. I personally feel like maybe I am getting my life back on some sort of good track.
8. I find myself wishing for things I can't have less and appreciating what I do have. I have been working on this one for a while.
9. Tomorrow is the day my puppies go to their new home. I am going to say this is fabulous because I know they will be happier and that is all that counts!
10. I have laughed a lot with Anna and my hubby. We all know that laughter is a great remedy for whatever ails ya. Oops, did I just say that on my blog lol. I guess since you all know I am a southerner I will let it stay lol.

So these are a few of the things that have made my week fabulous. What has made your week fabulous?

Bloggy Shout outs!

I have a few blogs that I check out almost daily and I thought I would share those with everyone so you can enjoy them too.

1. My good friend in real life Miles. I use it to keep up with what they are doing. Although she has been kinda slack on keeping me updated :) Life has a way of keeping us busy doesn't it.
2. My bloggy reads. I have never met these people or talked to them in real life. A few of them leave comments with me back and forth. I just enjoy reading there blogs and seeing what they are up too. This first one is a Mom of twin girls, Shawn. She is a great writer and her daughters sound like so much fun! Then we have a Mom that has a son close to Anna's age. She is now pregnant again. We seem to have several things in common so I just enjoy reading her life's journey, Mammacheryl. When I need a good laugh I go visit Poop and Boogies lol. The Queen of Dirty Laundry has passed on some great tips. I check her out quite a bit. Oh and I can't forget Not Before 7! She is the one that introduced Tiny Talk Tuesday. Be sure to see what else she talks about. She is very insightful. Last but not least I go to Toddler Heaven. She has a 1 year old and a 3 year old and I enjoy reading about her daily adventures.

So if you have a few spare minutes pop over and see these guys because they are great! Oh and I wanted to share one more that I found yesterday through Wordless Wednesday. She left me a comment telling me how cute Anna was. Which we all know to be true! Anyway, lol, She has some absolutely GORGEOUS pictures on her blog. Definitely go check her out when you can! Burnt Offerings

Wordless Wednesday - Got Milk!

Mixed Feelings

I have so many feelings running through me I am having trouble figuring it all out lol. This weekend is when we give our puppies to my new friend, Cindy. On one hand I am very excited because I know that the dogs will be much happier. I will not have to sweep, mop and vacuum so much and Anna will be able to play in the back yard more often. Oh and don't forget the weekly baths that take at least an hour to do. On the other hand they were my first babies. They have been a part of this family for a very long time. They make Anna very happy. They are fun to play with. They are so loving!

The truth of the matter is though that having the time to play or love on them has been limited and they have been cheated. We probably should have done this a long time ago but it was such a hard decision to make it took a lot of prayers, soul searching and arguments within myself to get to this point. They are going to a home where they will think they have died and gone to heaven. Cindy will let them have the run of the house, sleep in the bed and lounge under the fans all day. She is even going to install a fence and doggie door so they can have even more freedom. She sounds perfect doesn't she! I am glad that we waited because if we hadn't they wouldn't have gone to her.

Please keep me in your prayers as we go through this Saturday. I want it to be a smooth transition for us all. I hope that Cindy will be happy with them and they will be happy with her. I hope that we can adjust to not having them here. Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes!

Tiny Talk Tuesday

The other morning Anna was laying in bed with her Daddy. She was ready to get up but he was not. She looks at him and says "I'll be right back 0k?" it was clear as day.



We had breakfast and Aunt Casey was sleeping in. Anna ate and looked at me said "I wanna go get Casey up" clear as day!

For some reason when she says fish and juice I have a hard time telling the difference.

She is starting to understand how certain things are connected so when she is hungry she goes yum yum and opens her mouth wide and points.

She loves our puppies and she says "i wanna pether" even if she is talking about Buddy (the boy). And she says it with pet her all run together into one word.

go get - sounds like a bunch of g's thrown together lol. I am a southern girl through and through and I talk fast at times. So I guess she is copying what she hears, I can't even type out what it sounds like.

What are your little ones saying? Go to NB7 to see what other little ones are talking about!

The Best Birthday Ever!

I couldn't have asked for a better day! We started out by going to the beach. We got there around 9:15ish. We only stayed about an hour and a half but it was jammed packed with activity. We played in the sand, in the water, chased birds, watched a woman get saved by the life guards. I felt like we were watching Bay Watch in person lol. We got to see some fishermen pull up 3 fish (Anna loved that). We saw a Coast Guard helicopter go over and we waved at them. They waved back! We found a Star Fish! We saw several Jelly fish (Which is why I didn't stay in the water much). & My hubby saw some dophins (I somehow missed them). All of this in an hour and a half. Imagine if we had stayed longer! We left there and not 15 minutes later it is pouring down rain with the loudest thunder I have ever heard and streaks of lightening. We made it home and had some yummy chicken salad and potato salad left over from dinner last night. After trying to get Anna to take a nap she played with her Daddy so that I could clean the kitchen and have some me time. After that we baked my birthday cake as a family. It was a ton of fun. Anna thoroughly enjoyed it especially since she helped her Daddy with quality control, lol. Shortly there after Aunt Casey arrived! Anna was so excited to see her she couldn't contain herself lol. So we headed to dinner at my favorite you guessed it Mexican! YUMMY!!! My hubby went to play poker with the guys and us girls came home had some birthday cake and played!

Thank you for making my birthday special!!!

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

So today is my day. 34 years ago my Mother delivered me at 5 lbs and some odd oz. My Dad slept in the waiting room. My brother was home with my Grandmother, I think. It is hard for me to imagine that moment for my parents. I mean I know what it was like for us but it is different when you think about your parents in that moment. Did they feel the wonder and awe of this miracle bestowed on them? Did they wonder what I would grow up to be like? Who I looked like? Did they dream of a wonderful relationship with me?

Today is my birthday and my hubby is taking me to the beach! I am very excited and then my SIL is coming to town and she is taking us to dinner. I am excited to feel the love from those around me and know that they are glad I was born! So toast me at dinner tonight or have a yummy "dusurt" in my honor! Happy Birthday to ME!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Tackle it Tuesday

OK so this is a very embarrassing tackle but one that needed to be done! Our master bath collects EVERYTHING! No one really uses it but me and my hubby so it is one of the last things to be cleaned and obviously has been skipped totally for a while. So here are my before shots. Don't judge me I promise we aren't total slobs - just partial lol.

Here are our after shots. It is amazing the difference!

I still need to scrub the toilet more because I have that pesky ring and I need to scrub the shower more because we have the textured floor and it is a challenge for me to get it clean. Any tips to get rid of either of those would be much appreciated lol.

If you would like to see more tackles please go to 5mfm!

Birthday Woes

We had a fun filled weekend. If you want to know about it go to Anna's page.

Next weekend I will be 30 again for the, uh umm, 4th time. Birthdays get harder for me the older I get. I don't really know why but sadly it is true. I guess I feel like there is so much more I wanted to have accomplished by this point. I mean I thought I would already have a second child, have a successful career in something (I don't know what lol) would have traveled more and have more possessions. The truth of the matter is only one of those things do I really regret. I wish I had a second child already. I could have handled more travel and more possessions but those aren't important to me anymore. As far as the successful career I am a very successful Mommy and that is all that matters.

My life hasn't turned out like I planned but I really can't complain to much. I have a wonderful husband that has stuck with me through the good times and bad. I have a daughter that thinks I hung the moon. I have inlaws that treat me as one of their own. And I have friends that are good to me. So all in all my birthday should be a celebration of what I have accomplished and not a pity party for what I haven't. So because on my birthday it will be all about me today it is all about you guys! Thank you so much for being a part of my life and making it special. That includes my bloggy pals too, you guys are a wonderful new addition to my circle of friends! So everyone go have a bite of red velvet cake or german chocolate cake and a cup of milk and toast my birth and our friendship! You guys are the best!

Wordless Wednesday!

Happy Anniversary Lynn and Charles!

Yes, I know it is a day early!

Please Pray for my hubby's cousin and family!

They were in a horrific accident. Miraculously, the parents and one of the children were fine. Their daughter on the other hand has suffered from serious injuries. Below is a letter that they are sending to family and friends requesting prayers so I thought I would put it here to try and get even more prayers for this little girl. She is only 3 years old (I think). This is a horrible thing for her and her parents! Please keep them in your prayers.







I would like to thank everyone that was so kind to reply, call, visit, send a card or gift for Anastacia. The out pour of support was just incredible. We really are amazed and humbled that so many people are concerned for our well being and the recovery of Anastacia. So, Thank you!

The following is the latest we have from Children’s Hospital. Yesterday, Monday Aug. 13th Anastacia was moved out of the PICU to a room in general care.
This in itself is great news! She is still under excellent care, but they do not consider damage she incurred to be critical to life. Most of the impact
She suffered was to her face. There is no doubt the Child Safety seat saved her live. However the rear-end collision we experienced push the trunk space right
Into the back seat area where she and Anargyros where in. The greatest source of impact came to the right rear area(up high) where Anastacia was seated. Her face was push into the back of Tami’s seat. This is conducive to being hit by a pick-up truck, which we were.

……………There are many bones in the face. I do not have a list of them all. Many of them are fractured. What I can tell you is the bones around her eye sockets are all damaged. Above, below and on the sides of her eyes. The good news is the eyes themselves are in good shape and no damage was seen by that team of doctors. The rest of the bones in her cheeks and face are also fractured. Her nose is broken, and they are considering leaving that alone for now, however that could cause problems with the sinus tubes, etc…………………….

At this time it is too early to tell if she will need reconstructive surgery or not. All inner organs are functioning properly and no other bones are considered broken. It is a miracle that nothing else was broken or no internal injuries.

Thank you Erin for tagging me. You were right I did need something to do to cheer me up lol.

THE RULES:

1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
2. You must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their
middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
3. When you are tagged, you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts.
4. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

My Middle Name:
Denise

D-Dependent on family and friends for love and support
E-Everyone of the above mentioned family and friends think I am crazy
N-Naughty or nice hmmm depends on the day so both will work lol
I-Is it time to go to bed yet cause I love to sleep!
S-Sunshine makes me happy - I think I have that depression thing they talk about getting in winter months because of lack of sunshine. Of course the heat is not my friend!
E-Every day is a new day and I am trying to learn to live them all to the fullest!

So I am supposed to tag others so I tag: Toddler Heaven, Letters to my Daughter, Not Before 7

Uh Oh Ann is up I will keep tagging later!

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Yesterday Anna & I were watching Rachel Ray. She was cooking a pizza and Anna was seriously enjoying this. She looked at me after Rachel put the pizza in the oven and said "more". This is the child that doesn't really like tv at all but she sure does love some Rachel Ray lol.

We have been learning the song Head, shoulders, knees and toes this week. She can say all of the words so she sings with me but when she says shulders she grabs her chest lol. And she ALWAYS emphasizes the word TOES.

For more Tiny Talk Tuesday go to Not Before 7!

Thank you Friends!!!

I appreciate all of the support you all have given me, on here and IRL! This is really tough but I realize it is the right thing to do. I think we have found a new Mommy for them already. God had this already planned out I think because it just seemed to fall into place. She lost her 2 boxers, one in Dec. due to cancer and the other one 3 months later of a broken heart, pretty much. She decided the same day that my dogs were listed on the site that she was ready to open her heart to another dog. She told me she couldn't read the stories or she would want them all but was looking at the pictures. She saw my 2 babies and it clicked for her. She sounds like she will be amazing for them. They will be treated like the royalty they are! She has children a 17 year old and a 21 year old and they are just as excited about them as she is. She is planning to come get them the end of August. So please pray that I will survive this month but paticularly the end of the month.

I thought this was interesting: Above is a picture of my puppies and below is a picture of their new mommy's puppies that passed away. They obviously had the same kind of love! I pray that my puppies can help her and her children heal and love again and that my puppies will learn to love them too. Ugh here I go crying again. I have turned into a real cry baby. So on that note I will say goodnight! Please keep me in your prayers!

Tough Choices

Well, my hubby and I made a tough choice recently. We have decided to find a new home for our puppies! This is one of the toughest things that I have had to decide on in a long time. We know that it will be the best choice for all of us including them because they don't get all of the love and attention they deserve. Today I was talking to someone and they told me the best place to find a good home. It is called Boxer Town! I talked to the guy that runs it tonight and he has already added Maggie and KO. It is breaking my heart, I feel like such a terrible person. I just hope they will not suffer to much from the transition and that they can be happy in their new home when we find them one.

Ugh, I get all weepy every time I just think about it.

Wordless Wednesday - Who could resist that face!?!

My Cookie Cake

So last week I was looking for a simple recipe for a cookie. No one had any great ideas so I thought I would share the one that I found. It was yummy. I took a recipe from Paula Deen. We all know she is the best southern cook out there not to mention quite entertaining.

So here is the recipe that I used!

Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen
Show:
Paula's Home Cooking
Episode:
Rainy Day Picnic


1 (8-ounce) brick cream cheese, room temperature 1 stick butter, at room temperature 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 (18-ounce) box moist chocolate cake mix Confectioners' sugar, for dusting.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in the egg. Then beat in the vanilla extract. Beat in the cake mix. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm up so that you can roll the batter into balls. Roll the chilled batter into tablespoon sized balls and then roll them in confectioner's sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake 12 minutes. The cookies will remain soft and "gooey." Cool completely and sprinkle with more confectioners' sugar, if desired.

Be sure to chill it! Don't forget to put confectioner's sugar on your hands or the rolling pin whatever you decide to use. I found for the big cookie using my hands was easier. It turned out very yummy! I sprinkled a little more sugar on the top and then some purple and pink sugar crystals just for fun. It tasted very yummy and Anna really enjoyed it. The best part was it wasn't overly sweet and didn't have to much sugar in it. I used a pizza cutter to cut it because it was fluffy and thick. So thank you Paula Deen for your great idea!!!

Happy Birthday Anna Sophia!

2 years ago today you came into this world. It was a beautiful and extremely hot day. We went to the hospital anticipating your arrival and you didn't disappoint. You were so perfect in every way except for being so very tiny! I knew from the moment they put you in my arms that you were the very reason I was put here. You were and continue to be my life.

You have been such a blessing to me and your Daddy too. You light up the room any time you walk into it. Your smile and laugh are enough to brighten the darkest of days. When you cry, I want to cry! You monkey around and we all crack up. Just tonight at dinner you wanted dessert so you weren't going to eat. Knowing how you like to make people pretend cry I told you if you would take a bite I would cry out of shear joy. You took bite after bite just to see my antics with crying. Other times when you know I am upset and really crying you come over to make sure I am K! You are such a sweet girl and I thank God for you each and every day!

So Happy Birthday baby girl!!! I am proud of the little girl you are turning into and I am proud to say I am your Mommy! Thank you for being the best of me and your Daddy. Thank you for aiming to be the best that you can be and for caring about others even at such a young age. Thank you for being YOU!!!

My hopes and dreams for you are simple. I hope that you can find happiness in the simple pleasures around us daily. I hope that you can find a man as good as your Daddy! I hope you become a woman of many talents, much confidence and a strong sense of who you are and where you are going. I hope that you always know, no matter what, your Mommy and Daddy are here for you and will do anything we can to make your world a better place. I hope that you can learn from your mistakes and grow from them. That is a tough lesson but an important one. I hope that you become the best person that you can be. That you trust God and love him unconditionally. I hope that you can find something that you love to do and find a way to do it. I know that you will be an amazing child and woman. You already are and I can't wait to watch you grow and learn, change and expand your horizons, love and play and just be yourself. You are a true delight and I am truly blessed to be your Mommy!!!

Wordless Wednesday

My first flower from Anna!!!

Works for me Wednesday

I had a lot of GREAT ideas before Anna was here. All about the RIGHT way to parent. The moment she came into this world most of those ideas went right out the window! The best parenting advice I can give anyone is: Go with the flow! Be willing to change your mind a dozen times if needed. I was determined not to co-sleep, not to nurse and the list goes on lol. We still part-time co-sleep and we stopped nursing just a few short months ago. Anna is almost 2 now. So go with the flow and don't beat yourself up when you change your mind.

Some people worry about spoiling their baby. They say you can't spoil them before 6 months. My question is though can you ever love your child to much? Sure you can neglect teaching them right and wrong and I guess that is a form of spoiling but please don't ever think "Oh I held my baby for 30 minutes this morning while he was napping so I can't hold him this afternoon." Babies need to be cuddled and loved A LOT!

Trust YOUR instincts not the doctor, not your mother - you are the only one that really knows your child. You will know what to do even if it terrifies you! And trust me tons of it terrifies you!

The last thing that I will say and tons of people say it but don't miss a second of it. This time in their lives is so fleeting and goes by so fast. The house can be cleaned in time and the laundry will eventually get done. But as they say those things want need therapy if I neglect them lol!!!

Go enjoy that baby or child!!!

For more great child raising ideas from real ladies in the trenches go to Rocks in my Dryer!!!