Now What?

So....I have a new dog and we have a brand new minivan. What more could a girl want/need??
I need to get these Christmas decorations DOWN but I can't just quite make myself do it.
The reason is when all this comes down and gets taken to mammaw's little building across the road, I'll catch that bug.
The painting, redecorating, rearrange the furniture BUG...you ever get it this time of year? I surely do! My mama always told me that I have champagne tastes with a beer pocketbook and she's never been more right.
I'm ready to get my tax money back so we can tear out the living room and den's carpet and put fake hardwoods down. We also have a double-sided fireplace. That baby's outta here so that we can have one big great room instead of a living room and a den. But you know I'll have to be painting and everything else!
I want to redo our hall bathroom. Poor Lil R's gonna grow up using a bathroom with daisies and bumblebees. Of course, his room needs painting too! hahaha
Oh well---I am very happy with what God's given us this week.
Take care and enjoy your day!

We did it again!

Well....one afternoon last week, we were watching the TV. Lo and behold there ran an ad for a local Kia dealership on their end of year closeout just gotta have it specials--you know the ones right? Normally I'd go to the bathroom, or get more coffee, or check Lil R's diaper, or something else--anything else but watch AND pay attention to the commerical!
But--just this time I listened. I guess the fact that we got our title to our car in the mail last week had just a little bit to do with it.
SO...we went today and we got a new 2008 Minivan. A Kia Sedona, to be exact. We did make sure Big Daddy's daddy went with us. He used to be a car salesman, so we didn't want to get taken for a ride.
We think we got a GREAT deal on it! It only had 11 miles on it when I cranked it up for the test drive.
The only complaint I have is that it takes ALL DADGUM day for everything! UGH!
I'm pooped--could barely stay awake, it felt like, to drive home, but we made it! Lil R has SOOO much more room in it and I love that new car smell!
Here's a picture. Of course it's not one I took, it's one I copied from the internet. I'm sure you'll see the real thing on here soon enough!

Enjoy your day today!

We're Getting a DOG!

Hey y'all! I truly hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Please get your tails to my house and help me take everything down and then haul it to Mammaw's little storage building! Please?
Anyway...I've been stalking the website, Craigslist.com, for about 5-6 months looking for a dog. I have a few things this dog must be. First, she must be a SHE! I'm the only girl here at The Doublewide, and I need me a little girl here! Second, she must be house-trained! I can't take a dog pee-ing all over the floors and carpet. Third, she must be CUTE!
I found Airel today on Craigslist. After emailing with her mommy back and forth, she said we were the perfect family for her! We're going to pick her up tomorrow and bring her to The Doublewide! I can't wait to get her here and to dress her up!
Here's the picture her family sent us tonight.I'll be sure to send more tomorrow evening!
Also, I have to post the pictures of me and Big Daddy making peanut butter balls and those of Lil R painting the ornaments he gave everyone for Christmas presents this year! They were a big hit!
Enjoy your day--or night--or whatever!

Lookin' forward to my coffee in the morning already,

Michelle

Better, Buyin' and BUGS!

Confused about the title? Well, let me fill you in...

BETTER...

First of all Lil R is MUCH better. After two Rocefin shots last week, he's back to his sweet little self! We have been having the BEST time here at the doublewide. He makes me smile and laugh all day long. If I'm on the couch, he'll run in the den, jump in my lap, and give me a big hug and kiss and say, "Mama...I love you!" I'm so thankful for getting to hear that and getting to know what it feels like to be the mama of a precious little boy during the magical season of Christmas.
BUYIN'...
Big Daddy's parents took Lil R yesterday afternoon so that we could get a little shopping done. It was fun and we got most of it done in one day! I have made several of the gifts we're giving this year, but we ended up buying a lot yesterday too!
BUGS...
You know I had to save the best for last...
The other night we were in our bed getting ready to go to sleep. We had just finished helping Lil R say his prayers and we were doing the nightly saying of..."Night night...Sleep tight...Don't let the bedbugs bite". My mammaw always said that to us as kids and I still do it.
After all of that, Lil R looks at me and says..."Mama...I eat bugs!," and then busts out laughing. For five solid minutes, all I heard was, "I EAT BUGS!". It was so funny and after I told him how nasty that was he still thought it was hilarious!

We're off to make our yearly batch of chocolate covered peanut butter balls. Pray for my hands...That heavy dough makes my hands cramp!

Enjoy your day today.

Three Down, One to Go!

I have three trees up and only have one left to go until I'm done!

The tree in our den is the "Hershey's Ornament Tree". It's my favorite I think! You can't tell by looking at this picture, but EVERY ornament on the tree is Hershey's. It took me about 2 years to get these ornaments off of Ebay and in stores when I saw them. My favorite is the little stuffed kiss that's on top. Big Daddy won it for me in one of those crane-type machines!

The next tree is the one in our living room. This is where we have all of our favorite ornaments from friends and former students along with our childhood ornments that our parents gave us. The angel at the top of the tree was given to us by Big Daddy's Nanny who passed away right at Christmas with liver cancer. She knew she wouldn't make it, and went that summer before she died and bought all of the grandkids an angel for the top of their tree to remind them how much she loved them. It's a very special ornament for us and we smile when we remember her every year during this season.

Thank God They're Washable!

So, this past Thursday night, I guess it was, I was in the kitchen fixing supper. It had been cold and rainy so I thought I'd make "Breakfast for Supper". You've done that before, I'm sure.

Anyway--Big Daddy went to Bi-Lo and bought some fresh eggs, bacon, sausage, and a loaf of bread. While I was busy fryin, stirrin', and slatherin' (butter on the toast), Robbie got his can of Crayola Markers. Here's what the aftermath was.
Thank GOD they're washable and that I had some good spray cleaner---took it right off the wall and his piano, and his hamper, and...etc.
Enjoy your day today!

Crane Pictures are here!

Here's some pictures of the crane we decorated last weekend. I still laugh HARD looking through them.

Enjoy your day today!

I took Lil R to the doctor today to find out that he has double ear infections! I'll be off work tomorrow too. Thank God I have plenty of coffee creamer and cool whip!

Coming soon to a blog near you...

I can't believe it's almost Wednesday already. Just 8 more school days until my 2 week vacation! Ain't God good!!
This past weekend was wonderful! Lil R spent the night with his Pop Pop and MiMi Friday night and then spent the night with his Nanny and Grannypaw on Saturday night. It was nice to relax a little bit, but I sure did miss my little man when it was time to go to bed. He's just the best little snuggler and I'm used to him cuddling up with me at bedtime.
We decorated the Christmas tree at church and met the florist to arrange the poinsettias in the sanctuary. It's beautiful! So pretty that we decided to use the church's Christmas tree as a background for our family Christmas pictures again this year.
The famous CRANE is complete! Big Daddy, my sister, and myself decorated it this past Saturday. I didn't have my camera, but she did so as soon as I get her to email the pictures to me, I'll post them.
Let me just say, my daddy loved it! He actually climbed on top of it and added the lights to the very tippy top!
We had a blast and we have to thank Uncle Puddin' for the use of his EXPENSIVE duct tape. It was the shiny kind that looks like chrome. He fussed and said that it costs around 20 bucks a roll--but we didn't care!
I can't wait for y'all to see these pictures!
Mammaw's doing a lot better. They're trying a contraption called a "wound vac" on her bedsore, but she pulls it loose during the night and doesn't know what she's doing. Bless her heart! Her doctor said he doesn't need to see her again for six weeks, so we're happy about that!
I'm finally ready to get Lil R out of his crib. I can't believe he'll be 3 in February and he's still in a crib, but he's such a dare devil! I'm scared he'll hurt himself in a toddler or twin bed. I'm trying to decide which to use. Any advice from my 3 readers will be greatly appreciated! hahaha
Enjoy your day!

Great News

We went to The Ear, Nose and Throat doctor today with Lil R. His tonsils are going to have to come out, but he wants to wait at least six months before he'll make a decision. He said he doesn't like to do this type of surgery until the child is at least three years old. Lil R will be three in February, so we have a little while.
Mammaw's visit went even better! He said her sore was beautiful! And...he doesn't have to see her for six more weeks. He ordered a "wound vac" that is supposed to speed up her healing process. Praise the LORD!
Tonight was so much fun!
We had our women's meeting at church instead of normal prayer meeting, since it's the first Wednesday night of the month. Tonight was when we revealed who we were to our Secret Sisters.
This was so much fun and we had some great food too!
The best part was when me and Amanda took crazy pictures. We were laughing so hard and when I grabbed her arm and told her I was peeing, right there in the church's fellowship hall, was priceless.
Hopefully she'll post some of the pictures on her Myspace, (hint hint) and I'll be able to snag some to post here soon!
I'm off to take Lil R and myself to bed!
Have a great night!

It's NOT Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas

Well...here we are at December 3rd, and I still have YET to put any decorations up or anything!

I decided to go outside a few minutes ago and give you a little bit of a backyard tour!
First of all...THIS BEAUTY....

When my Pappaw Fred died in 1996, he left my brother, my sister, and myself FIVE acres of land on the farm. We got to pick where each of ours would be, just as long as it wasn't in the middle of the farm or anything.
So, I picked my spot and my sister's land is right beside of mine. I am standing in our driveway and facing her land. On her land sits this glorious beauty. Hmmm...I don't think beauty is the correct name--maybe BEAST!
My daddy seriously tried to move this lug, but it won't budge, or so he says. We have threatened to string lights on it at Christmas every year, but have failed in doing so over and over again! This year, by cracky, it's gonna the the highlight of the farm! Matt Roloff ain't got JACK on us let me tell ya!
Next is an old barn that's also on my sister's property. We played in this barn a little bit as kids. There is a bigger barn on the other side of the road where we really spent a lot of our time, but this one's on it's last leg. Before it is taken down, I'm getting some of the wood. Big Daddy says he's going to make me a really big farm table from the wood, and I'm seriously drooling already just thinking about it.
I've also thought that maybe I could just use some of the planks and nail them to the wall and have me an old timey kitchen when we build. Do you think that's a crazy idea? I think it'd be really cool.

Above you'll see my baby tree. My daddy dug up two different trees at two different times and tried to plant me a good tree in my front yard. Both attempts failed as those trees decided they were pretty ticked off about being relocated, so they just bit the dust. Lo and behold, some of the seeds or something set and have taken root. Maybe in 30 years, it's gonna be a grand beauty, ya think?
My brother in law built this Hillbilly Fire Pit in our backyard. We love taking chairs and sitting out by the fire on Friday nights. There ain't nothing like a good steaming hot cup of coffee to combine with laughter and stories around the fire! Call us redneck, but we are HOOKED!

Here's our little wood pile too. Can you hear that? It's the cries of all that wood, beggin us to be lit, so they can hear our stories and offer warmth soon!

Just thought I'd let you see two views from my back STEPS. Notice, I didn't say porch. I'm hoping Big Daddy will feel sorry for me and do something about my "back porchless" situation!

Finally, I'll end with the best thing I've created lately. Make you a cup of coffee using Pumpkin Pie Spice creamer. Then add real Cool Whip from a container out of your freezer to the top. If you've ever wondered if Heaven has a taste, I found it!

Please say a prayer for our family today! Daddy and my sister, Doodah, are taking mammaw to her wound care doctor today at 2:30 to check on her bedsore's status. It's really grossly nasty, but the sore is dramatically improving!
We're taking Lil R at 1:30 to the Ear, Nose and Throat specialist. His pediatrican referred him because she says his tonsils are kissing! I'm not sure if I want them to get them out since he's not even three yet, but it will help with ear infections and strep, both of which he's had in the last two weeks.

Enjoy your day today!