Trying to earn favor :)

OK.. so it's been 9 1/2 months since I blogged, but I have a very good reason for blogging today :) NO I"M NOT PREGNANT! However, I do have a dear friend who's running a contest
and I need to blog to be able to get 3 extra entries :)) She has the most AMAZING ability to coupon clip!! If you're frugal or just want to learn new tips on saving money, please check out her website: http://hereacouponthereacoupon.blogspot.com/2010/09/kraft-homestyle-mac-and-cheese-giveaway.html Who doesn't love mac and cheese??

I'm telling you, she can clip ONE coupon, go to the grocery store and come back with $500 worth of free food AND the store ends up OWING her money!!

Tis the Season

Our system is down at work, so I thought I'd stop in for a visit :) Coffee = check. Drugs = check. I'm good now. I've been sick since Monday night and there doesn't seem to be a light at the end of my tunnel. However, the more caffeine I seem to ingest appears to make things more tolerable. Need I mention the drugs I'm taking are "occupational medications"? They also include large amounts of caffeine in them too :) I went to bed last night (well technically it was still afternoon...) at 5:30pm. That's right... 5:30! I slept until 5:45am this morning. I'm thinking of doing it again this afternoon too. The kids were a blessing yesterday and didn't argue at all or at least they were quiet about it and let me get some rest. Thank you sweet babies!! You can be good when you want to :) Let's try this more often ok?

Martin and I are looking forward to next week. I'm working Monday, but will be off the remainder of the week. Martin is only able to take off Thursday. It's gonna be a slim Christmas this year, but we'll make it. We didn't get our annual Christmas bonus at work this year which usually paid for their Santa. Luckily, Martin opened a Christmas account and we were able to save a little bit to help this year. There aren't any "extras" to speak of, but each is getting 2 things that they really wanted. I'm hoping the simplicity of it all will be more enjoyable and let them really appreciate what they ARE getting instead of all the "stuff" they normally get. I said, "I'm hoping".... that doesn't mean it's gonna happen. I'm fully prepared for the complaining and belly-aching for what they didn't get. I'll keep you posted.

This weekend I'm getting Alli Claire's "big-girl" bed finished and put up. She's been waiting for a month and I'm just to the point of having it refinished and ready. I'll take pictures :) She still looks so cute in her baby bed that converted into her toddler bed. I don't think I've mentally prepared myself to see her in a big bed yet. I'm sure there will be tears! Lots of them. She's my last (she's made sure of that!) but I still can't wrap my head around the growing up process and how quickly it happens. My Graisi will be 10 in February!! TEN. I can hardly believe it myself!

If I don't get back before Christmas day, please know I wish you and your family the best (albeit simple in some cases) and most enjoyable Christmas ever!! Enjoy what you've been given and eat what's left! Hugs and lots of smooches

Much a do about nothing

Ok... so it's been a while. I said I was going to do better about blogging and you see where that gets me? I'm going to let you down... I'm surprised you're just now realizing that! Hello... it's me. :)

Lots to catch up on... I'm training today at work and not liking it one bit. But that's another story for another day.

Martin and I graduated from Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University last night. I have a diploma and am edumacated now!! Look out budget....

Graisi started meds for ADD a few weeks ago and is doing great. We don't make her take them on the weekends, but I think I'm going to start making her. She drives us nuts when she's not on them!! It's crazy!

Alli Claire saw the Boy Scout Christmas tree set-up on side of the road last night and declared she wanted to go to the Christmas Tree Garden and see all the pretty trees. I think I might stop this afternoon and let her do just that. Why not, right?

Our house is decorated for Christmas, inside and out. Our front porch looks great and I love our tree. For the past 2 years we've decorated it with the 1960's/70's big ceramic bulbs. We also got a new tree this year. It's a big one that takes up most of our living room, but it's great! I can see our ornaments and they don't look like an "ornament blanket" like they looked on our slim tree. Martin found it on sale at Old Time Pottery on Black Friday for $30!! Go Dave Ramsey!!

My coffee is just now kicking in, so I'm able to type really fast. My coffee makes me happy. Without it, I'm worthless.

My friend Catherine is moving this week and I need to go help her pack. I hate packing, but when it's somebody else's stuff I don't mind. Kinda like cleaning someone else's house, ya know?

I went to the dr w/ my dad last week. Please put him in your prayers. He's in a great deal of joint pain and they don't know why. He's scheduled for MRI's and another drs appt next week.

Let's see what else I can ramble about. As if the info above wasn't enough....

That's all I can think of right now. I'm sure I'll think of more in just a little while. Stay tuned... or don't. I really can't blame you. My blogging track record has not proven to be consistent. Anywho... be good and I'll blog when I can or think about it or feel like it or don't have anything else to do.

Shelli

Nickelback/Hinder Tour 2009

Catherine and I were patrons at the Nickelback/Hinder/Papa Roach/Saving Abel tour Tuesday night. I was supposed to have been Monday night but was postponed until Tuesday due to the tropical storm coming thru that was supposed to have produced 30-50 mph winds. Needless to say, no wind or rain Monday night, but a torrential downpour happened Tuesday night! We sat in the rain for FOUR hours (which included thunder and lightening), but we weren't budging! It was the most fun I've had in years!! The concert was awesome. We sat beside a guy who'd brought this 14 yr old niece. She didn't need to go to the restroom by herself, so between acts Catherine and I took turns escorting her. In exchange, he was VERY nice with the beverages! LOL Here are a few pictures :o)

These are "after concert" feet that got washed in the Whataburger

since around midnight-thirty. YUK!

Me and Catherine after the concert. Not too bad for having sat in the rain for over 4 hrs, huh?
Chad w/ Nickelback. He rocked it!

I love me a drummer!!

He was awesome!!!

Nickelback

In the middle of the thunderstorm!! No kidding... with lightening and everything!

Austin w/ Hinder. B/c of the storm, they were delayed and didn't play as much as I would have liked. Oh well. Maybe next time, right?!!

Me, Catherine, Robert & Brooke (she's 14!).

Coby w/ Papa Roach. He held my hand!! :o)

Saving Abel. They also didn't play as much as I would have liked....

When you don't have a mirror... a digital camera will work just fine :o)

4th grade first days and other misc info

Per Graisi, the first day of 4th grade was great! She loved her teachers and even loved riding the bus!! She hopped off of the bus with a huge smile on her face. You have no idea how good that made me feel. After two years of of bad teachers and a nightmare of a bus driver, we were due some goodness. The only thing she didn't like was when she goes into the cafeteria for breakfast, she can't get right into food line. She has to put her backpack down in front of the seat she will be sitting and she can't save a seat for her friend like she was able to in elementary. However, she was able to hook up with her friends before sitting down :o)

I have her riding the bus with Mallory and I'm picking them up at Mallory's bus stop. It's great for us and Mallory doesn't have to walk home from the bus. WooHoo!

Alli Claire, also, had her first day of "Playball". It's a program that comes to her school and teaches preschoolers the basics of athletics. It is pretty cute the way they're taught. She was sooo excited when I picked her up. She told me all about being baby birds and Tinkerbells. She also said something about hitting a ball with a "fly stick" or that's what it sounded like anyway. I've given up on trying to understand everything she says. It's virtually impossible.

When Martin signed AC up last week, he spoke with the Playball teacher to get the details. Afterwards, he called and said he'd spoken with the "Playball Cheerleader". I laughed and didn't think anything about it. I had an email from Ms. Victoria this morning and well... y'all ... it was a little "cheerleader disturbing"!! I have NEVER heard anybody speak in "cheers" before. Literally.

Tomorrow our cul-de-sac is having a huge yard sale (4 families) in the circle. Let me just tell ya... I ain't got nothin' ready. Nothin'! I went to storage last night and spent an hour going thru boxes trying to find stuff. My Tahoe is full, but I also found stuff I wanted to bring back home. It was a little counter productive to say the least. I've got to clean out the attic this afternoon and get everything priced. OR I may put stuff in designated areas and put signs in front of the
items with a specific price. Just depends on how much time I have. LaShea made the signs and put them out last night with the time from 8-3. When I passed by I had to laugh!! I really hope she doesn't think there aren't going to be people sitting outside her house at 6am. If so, she's going to be rudely awaken. I sooo want to sleep late, but I also need to get rid of stuff and make a little $$.

In case you haven't been informed, I will be going to see Nickelback & Hinder in concert with Catherine Monday night. I've waited for months and it's almost here!! I'm so excited I'm beside myself. Watch for pictures. This is gonna be fun :o)

Yep.. gonna spray my kid down with Raid

Graisi started 4th grade today. She is no longer officially in elementary school, but in intermediate. I'm a little sad because my baby is growing so fast. But at the same time, I'm so excited to see what tomorrow holds for her. She's such a cool, creative kid and it's so neat to see her change into the person she is to become. So cool!

I re-dyed her hair last night in anticipation for today. Except this time, it came out extremely hot pink! It's so cute and I think I like it better than the first time!! I'll post pictures here this afternoon because words just cannot describe her attire!

As most parents know, there is A LOT of paperwork to enter any grade of public education. 4th grade was no exception. We went to "meet the teacher night" Tuesday afternoon and realized I would need to stop by the nurses office to complete the forms for Graisi's bug spray and hydrocortizone (very allergic to mosquito bites). I won't even go into the paperwork fiasco (let's just there was one and leave it alone) with the "nurses". I use this word VERY loosely. I explained to the "nurse" that Graisi would need to be sprayed down with bug spray before going outside each day due to this allergy. She quickly replied, "Oh we cannot do that!" I asked why not. I mean, she needs this in order to be protected. She was shaking her head the whole time and said she needed to check with somebody else. As she spoke w/ the person on the other line, she had this very confused look on her face and looked at me and said, "Like Off... insect repellent?" I looked at her and said, "Um... yeah. Bug spray.". She got off the phone and said, "Oh I thought you were talking about spray like fly spray or Raid." Y'all... I would pay large amounts of money to have a picture of my expression at that very moment! That fool actually thought I was trying to get her to spray my kid down with RAID!

Is this not the same part of the county that calls ALL soda's "cokes"? Do we not call fly swatters, "fly flaps"? Or movie theaters "shows"? WHY on this green earth would that moron immediately think RAID, when the need for bug spray was used in relation to protecting my child from mosquito bites? And to think she has to be somewhat educated.... I'm still left with a disturbingly confused expression. I'll never watch a roach commercial again the same way without a mental picture of Graisi. ROFL

Beach bound and back so quickly

Martin and I took the kids to the beach this past weekend (Aug 1-5) and just got back last night. (As you can see I'm a little late posting this, but it should make some of you happy that I WAS working on it ;o)

We had such a great time! Both kids were beside themselves wanting to get there. Let me just say, it takes longer to get to Orange Beach than I remember... Not sure what all that's about, but I wasn't diggin' it. But we got there. Safely and that's all I can ask for.



Once we got there and unpacked we were beach bound. Unfortunately the jellyfish were out, so we couldn't get in the water :o( But we weren't letting them rain on our parade. No we weren't! So we elected to play in the sand instead. Graisi decided she'd find the j-fish and warn everybody that came along. LOL



Sunday was beautiful. I spent most of the day with my toes planted in the sand and a cold drink (with lime of course) in my hand. The jellyfish were gone but their tentacles were not! Graisi and Alli Claire got stung many times, so we decided to stay land locked for the remainder of the day. We enjoyed having dinner with some friends of ours who were also in OB for several days. Thank you Brad and Andrea for putting up with us and some great conversation. Brad... I'm not sure I'll ever look at you the same way!! ROFL That's good stuff right there!



Monday was also fantastic. No jellies!! Martin and the girls played in the water. Mom was back on the beach in the sun! I soaked it UP. We headed back to the condo and got ready for family-beach pics. I'll post them when I get them edited :o) They're great!! Dinner was not so great. I won't go into detail... it just wasn't good!



Tuesday was... you guessed it! MORE SUN! This was was sand castle day, but only because AC wanted one badly... it wasn't "great" but it was 3 yr old qualifiable :o) That's all I needed. I got in the water a few times, but I had my spot and I wasn't moving much if I could help it. We also took a dauphin cruise and had a neat time watching them surface and play around. Alli Claire wanted to swim with them :o) If anyone goes and wants to do this (ride that is), look up Skipper J's Dauphin Cruises. Great experience and no once yelling at you on a loud speaker. We at dinner at Flippers there at the marina. This dinner sooooo made up for the previous night. I would also highly recommend their cuisine. YUM!!



And now on to Wednesday morning... Alli Claire woke up around 3:30am screaming her head off! My immediate thought, as I was so quickly awaken from my slumber, was that she had fallen out of the bed. If you'd have given me a few seconds more I would have coherently realized this was not possible since she had a bed rail on the bed with a chair pushed up against it. But it was, after all, 3:30 IN THE MORNING! There were no coherent thoughts... I struggled with my legs trying to get them to cooperate w/ the covers, to no avail. So I did the next best thing... I screamed at Martin, slapped his arm and instructed him to GET UP. For all I knew, we had a 3 yr old laying on the cold, stone tile floor with her head bleeding profusely from the massive head trauma she had obtained while falling from the whopping height of 2 1/2
feet from the bed to the floor. (This was the actual mental picture I had...really.) And I wasn't going to have to witness and clean it up myself ... when I could get my feet untangled. As our bedroom door flew open... there was no blood. No 3 yr old on the floor. No trauma to deal with. Just Alli Claire sitting up in the middle of her bed screaming as if monkeys had just eaten her feet off. Ok... so I got her calmed down then noticed Martin in the kitchen profusely rubbing his eye. I asked if he was ok and he assured me that he was, but thought he had something in it. So I went back to bed and he took a little bit longer to follow than I thought he should have. I asked him again if he were ok and he said his eye was hurting pretty bad. I knew immediately he'd torn his cornea and suggested we go to the emergency room immediately. He refused. Are any of us surprised? So... my "mommy mode" kicked in. I went into the kitchen and found the yellow pages. The only "medical" type professionals that were up at, now, 4am was a 24 hr Walgreens in Mobile. So I called. To which the pharmacist confirmed my plan of care and thought it best to get him to the emergency room, too. I went back to the bedroom and told him of our treatment assessment and he declined again. What did I do? I rolled over and went back to sleep. I figured if he wasn't too worried about going blind before we could get him to a doctor, then I wasn't either. I know it was not the "good-wifely" thing to do, but he was being stubborn. We got up the next morning, packed the car (apparently the pain had subsided) and hit the road home. About 10 minutes in the car, I looked over and asked if he wanted me to find him an optometry appt for when we got home. He said, "Yes.". I knew he was a little worried at that point :o) When he woke up he couldn't see out of that eye... Anywho, I called a friend of ours from church and he was able to see Martin at 3pm last Wednesday afternoon. I was really hoping to be sleeping with a pirate for the next week, but no dice! Paul said he'd torn the top layer of the cornea off but it had started to heal by the time we got there. We left with sample ointments and drops (which is #1) and was told to come back if it was still bothering him a week or so. Paul said more than likely what happened was that Martin was sound asleep and his eyes had cracked a bit drying out the exposed tissue. When he quickly opened his eyes from the screaming (and slap :o), they didn't have a chance to lubricate and the lid had become attached to the eye itself. EWWW!