Here's our two week totals:

Ronnie has lost 27 lbs.

and

I have lost 12 lbs.

This is one of the hardest things we have EVER done, but we're doing it TOGETHER and that makes it fun!

Last night we really wanted to walk, but a huge lightening display was taking place.  Thunder was super loud as well, so we stayed inside.  Fortunately there was no monsoon but it was already after nine when the lightning decided to stop.

Hopefully we'll be able to walk after Robbie's last soccer practice of the season tonight!

Weigh-in on Thursday...

Guess what?
Big Daddy and I are on a BIG DIET!  We weighed in yesterday afternoon and I've lost 6lbs. this week and Big Daddy lost 14!  I'm so proud of US!
We'e been walking around my home church's parking lot in the evenings and I've only had a soft drink 3 times in the past week.  I'm drinking LOTS of water and feel like my eyeballs are going to float off my face some days.

Yesterday was Robbie's Adoption Day also!  It's our 5th year anniversary of legally being parents. We enjoyed the afternoon at Monkey Joe's and he wanted CiCi's pizza for supper.  It's hard to only eat 1 piece and a BIG ole salad instead of piling pizza all over the plate.

We'll be ok though....it'll be WAY worth it when we're both around to watch him graduate and then get married someday!

Y'all have a wonderful weekend!

It's a Beautiful Morning....

I took our dog Cookie out to pottie this morning.  Normally Big Daddy does that, but for some reason I did it today.
When I walked down the back porch steps and looked to my right, this is what I saw:

Wasn't it such a beautiful morning behind The Doublewide?  I think so!

Miss Cookie says Howdy!

Oh Sweet Lord...

I wish I was staying here......

and sitting here...

doing this....

while listening to this....

Instead, I'm here....

Doing this...

To prepare for these....

Our NC EOG testing dates are May 15 - May 17.

I know my kids have learned and have worked hard.
I just honestly wish the state didn't make it so hard on us!

Oh well....

Wait!  Where was I?

Oh yea.....

We're on vacation in East Tennessee with our friends, Freddie and Kay Combs this week.  Tonight is our last night as we'll be leaving around lunch time tomorrow.

Our plans in the morning are to go to a few yard sales and then head to The Farmer's Daughter for a great breakfast before we head home.

There's a list of a few things I've either seen, thought about, or experienced while on our getaway this week.

I'm making a list now so that I can remember everything when we get home.

Here goes:

1.  Find a great pecan sandie type shortbread cookie recipe

2.  Find a cornbread salad recipe--make it and share!!

Source: cherryhillcottage.typepad.com via Erin on Pinterest

3.  Get a Knit-Wit

4.  Decide on the kind of head band/wrap pattern to make and get busy!

5.  Work on fabric yo-yo's.  They WILL become a quilt topper this winter.

Source: bhg.com via Jalet on Pinterest

6.  Decide whether or not I want to try again with cold-process soaps.  Is the $$ worth the outcome?

Source: moneysavingmom.com via Emily on Pinterest

7.  Work on getting the craft room together and organize for at least 30 minutes daily until success is reached!

8.  Class novel....Surviving the Applewhites or Where the Red Fern Grows?!

9.  Make the jar button holder thingie--to look something like shown below:

10.  Make THIS ASAP!

Source: realsimple.com via Danielle on Pinterest

That's plenty until Summer Vacation gets here!  I hope you've found something that interests you too!

Have a wonderful weekend!

This morning we were treated to a workshop on Photo Story 3 during our planning time.  I wanted to quickly share the video I made of some of my ancestors.
If you've never played with this program, please do!  It's super easy and very fun!
*You have to have Windows xp to view.
I'll be editing later--just put the music and the pictures in for now.

Date Night With Robbie

Hey Y'all!
Yesterday Robbie and I began doing our very own "Date Night" together.
He told me that he wanted to take me out on a date!  I was so excited!  I asked him where he was planning on taking me.  His reply, " CHUCK E. CHEESE Mama!"  Umm....No.
I did talk him out of going to see the big mouse and eating cardboard pizza.
Instead, when his bus dropped him off at my school yesterday afternoon, we hit the road.
I had all these plans!  I had talked to some of my students and had some pretty amazing ideas!  (Or...so I thought!)
I really wanted to go see the new movie, "Journey 2 The Mysterious Island." 

 My kids said that since it was only rated PG, Robbie would LOVE it!  (Isn't that just like a middle schooler?!!)
So, on the way to the theater to catch the 4:30 show, I told him what we'd be watching.  He absolutely refused to watch it.  He said that he had seen the preview and it looked too scary.  I begged.  I pleaded.  NOPE...he wasn't having it!
So, we bought tickets to:

He had already seen it with Pop Pop and MiMi, but he wanted to watch it with me!
We ended up having the whole theater all to ourselves.  My daddy still cannot believe that the theater "Ran that movie just for two people!"  Robbie and I were so glad they did.
Since the movie didn't start until 4:50 and we purchased our tickets at 4:00, we went to The Goodwill store next door to kill some time.  I found two pair of jeans for me. ($4.99 each)  One pair are from The Avenue and the other pair are Levi's.  I also bought a board game for Robbie and a marionette clown puppet.  It looks really old and was hand painted.  I'm going to do some research to see if I can find out anything on it.
After the movie, we went to Cato and The Dollar Tree and then to a wonderful restaurant in Gastonia called Shogun.  YUMMY Japanese food where they cook at your table.
Finally at around 9:15, we made it back home to The Doublewide.
After doing homework and reading and laying out everything for this morning, we didn't get to sleep until around 10:30.
I am surely paying the price for it today!  I just hope Robbie's holding his eyes open while at school too!
We will surely have another day together---just me and him.  I feel like I need to get in as many moments as I can while he still thinks it's cool to hang out with mama.  I was so tired that I nearly fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
On my way to La-La-Land, I heard him talking to his daddy....
"Daddy...how about this Saturday me and you have a Father/Son day.  It wouldn't be cool to say a Date Night since we're both boys, but I want to spend time with just you too!"
See why I love me some of that boy?!!
Hope you have a great weekend!
We'll be making our Lye Soap this evening for the first time!  I can't wait!!!