more time please...

Ok, so it seems that we have been going non stop for the last 2 months. Between work, church, baseball practice, more church, birthday parties and other things... it seems there is rarely time to just be at home and enjoy it.

Tonight, my sweet family is going to spend the evening at home. The 3 of us are going to eat some dinner and relax and watch movies. The Blindside will definitely be part of this evening. I cannot wait to watch it. I've heard nothing but good things about it and I'm super stoked to see it. I'm more excited to just spend time with my boys.

Have I mentioned how sweet my husband is? I have mentioned wanting a watch here lately and found one of my old ones and was so happy!!! I wore it for about a day and then realized it did not keep time correctly. I was bummed. :( Last night I walked in the door and hubby was already home with Tyler and he just handed me a brand new watch!!! He went and picked one out for me. How sweet is that?!?!?!

Starting tomorrow morning is our opening baseball tournament. I am excited for this as I am a new baseball mama. First game is at 9 A.M. It will be an early and long day but I can't wait. Hopefully I will get some decent pics with my camera while we are there.

Happy weekend to all!!!

bowl it out

The other night we had a "family night out" and it started with a wonderful trip to the bowling alley here in town that has recently re-opened. We had such a good time and we all 3 got to have our wins. I won the first, Dennis the second and Tyler won the third game. We just had a blast being goofy and wearing the super cool shoes.

here is Dennis making one of his faces during a deep discussion with Ty...


Tyler "peacin' out"


the pink ball was his "lucky" ball...


about to knock down some pins


the above said super cool shoes :)


All in all we had a wonderful evening together. I can't wait to see how our next "family night out" goes. Maybe this Saturday???

pho[jo.]tography

Ok, Johannah is the sweet doll that took our photos and will be taking more. The title to this blog is actually her blog title. Visit her at pho[jo.]tography.blogspot.com.

As I said previously she has been a blessing in my life. I have had the privilege of watching her mature into an amazing little lady over the past several years. Below are some of our crazy, yet very normal pictures.

I heart her!!

Here we have the "Karate-Kid" style Hannah and I trying to make a serious face



Oh Falls Creek memories... Jo decided to come to my bunk to hang out for a while



...Falls Creek again. It was nerd day so Jo dressed up and I am nerdy enough to be myself on said nerd day.



This is "Argh matey, I have a cookie for me eye" Hannah



And alas... the "I swear if you don't get that camera out of my face I'm going to kick you" look.



Well friends, there you have her. The amazing, talented, beautiful and random Johannah.

Did I mention that I adore this girl!?!

Canton

Well we went to Canton last weekend for our annual trip. We had a blast!! I don't have any pictures but wanted to post a little about our trip anyway. We loaded up in two vehicles and took off around 6:00 A.M. on Friday morning. We had about 2 and a half days of shopping and laughing and FREEZING!!! It was so cold in Texas, even colder than here. Who knew that would happen? Despite the freezing cold temperatures there was a pretty good crowd. We found lots of goodies, a few Christmas gifts and some really neat ideas for making things. I can't wait to get started on my crafts!! After church tonight sounds like a great night to start.
The cold weather has really put me in the Christmas spirit. I cannot wait until our family Christmas get together on the 19th. Already have my "chinese" gift bought and ready for the fight! It will be a full day of fun, family and food!!

coffee filters...

I got this email from my Aunt Pat this morning and thought I would share. I hate forwarding emails but I thought this one was worth reading.

25 uses for coffee filters:

Coffee filters .... Who knew! And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing even the large ones.

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome... Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.

4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters..

13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.

14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."

15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliquéing soft fabrics.

16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.

17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.

18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.

19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.

20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies.. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.

21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.

22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.

23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.

24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book..

25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.

.... and they are good for coffee too!!

Randomness

My sweet friend, Amy posted this on her blog and I loved reading it and learning more about her. I thought I would post it on my blog as well and any of you who read my blog, please enjoy and if you have a blog... please repost!!!

1. Do you like blue cheese? I love it!

2. Have you ever smoked? Sadly, yes

3. Do you own a gun? No, but really want to take the concealed carry class!

4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite? Grape!

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? It really depends on the reason I'm going...

6. What do you think of hot dogs? I used to despise them but now I enjoy them from time to time.

7. Favorite Christmas movie? Elf, but I'm going to start watching "the classics" this year that I've never seen so this answer may change.

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee

9. Can you do push-ups? the girlie ones...

11. Favorite hobby? Cooking, baking, crafty stuff... tons of crafty stuff!!

12. Do you have A.D.D.? I am not sure if it is actually A.D.D. but I have a few issues focusing at times.

13. What's one trait you hate about yourself ? I'm too set in my ways.

14. Middle name? Diane

15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? I want to feel better :( - I am ready for the weekend - I'm so thankful for my life and the blessings I have been given.

16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? coffee, tea, water

17. Current worry? Not worried at the moment.

18. Currently hate right now? this cold or allergies or whatever it is.

19. Favorite place to be? depends on my mood

20. How did you bring in the New Year? I was asleep before midnight.

21. Where would you like to go? everywhere!

22. Name three people who will complete this? I don't know that anyone will.

23.Do you own slippers? ...mmmm.... maybe

24. What shirt are you wearing right now? a t-shirt

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Not really...

26. Can you whistle? I'm very good at whistling!

27. Favorite color? Green

28. Red or white wine? Both, but I prefer white if I drink it.

29. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't usually sing in the shower.

30. Favorite Girl's name? I'm not sure. I have several that I like very much.

31. Favorite Boy's name? Emmett (my great grandfathers name)

32. What's in your pocket right now? Nothing.

33. Last thing that made you laugh? I think it was a picture that I saw.

34. Worst injury you ever had? a broken arm

35. Do you love where you live? I'm not unhappy but there could be better places.

36. How many TVs do you have in your house? 3

37. Who is your loudest friend? I better not answer that

38. Do you have any pets? I have a new dog! Hamlet!!

39. Does someone have a crush on you? I'm not sure...

40. Your favorite type of music? Christian mostly

41. Favorite Sports Team? OU ~Boomer Sooner!!!



Thanks for taking your time to read these pointless facts about me. :) Hope to read them on your blogs soon. Thanks for the idea, Amy!!

Funny Face, I Love You...

I have so many "funny face" pictures that I decided to dedicate a blogpost to them. They give me a good laugh every time I see them.

This is Hannah and I being goofy...



Candace and I...



My little cousin, Justin...



Bryson and his silly face...



Madilyn and her precious silly face...



Micah being Micah...




My nieces Karliegh, Crysta and Katelyn...







Silly pictures are so much fun to take and even more fun to look back on and get a kick out of. I think I have more funny face pictures than I do real ones.
We need to always remember to have fun, laugh and enjoy our times with each other.

The shoot

So weekend before last, I had the privilege of going with my little cousin on her senior picture photo shoot. I had such a great time and I'm so glad she invited me to go!! I took dozens of pictures and only about 3 of them turned out well. I have since seen the "finished product" of her shoot and she was so beautiful in every single shot. I'm so proud of the young woman that was once the little girl who followed me around. I love her dearly and I know she is about to start the beginning of a huge adventure in her life. She will be graduating in May and then in the fall she's off to college. It will be so fun to continue to watch her walk with the Lord get stronger and watch her life unfold.
These are the ONLY 2 pictures that really turned out well. I was really upset that the others were so blurry but very happy to at least have these 2.

My favorite things about fall...

I love pumpkins!! I love all of the different shapes they can be and the different colors. From warm oranges to creamy whites to deep greens... the colors are just so fall!! I love to see pumpkins grouped together or just one scattered here and there during fall. Mixed in with all of the other warm colors of fall and everything that goes with it, pumpkins are just wonderful!! Not to mention, I love pretty much everything pumpkin. Pumpkin bread, cake, muffins, dip, coffee... you name it, I love it!!!



I absolutely love to see the new colors that fall brings. I get so excited when the leaves start to change colors and fall to the ground. It makes me wish that I could spend the fall season in Central Park and just enjoy the cooler weather and beautiful scenery. For now... the parks around here will have to do!



I just love mums!! I think that they are so beautiful potted next to some pumpkins on the porch or planted in a bed in the fall. There are so many warm wonderful colors and they really go so well with all the changing leaves and new colors that fall always brings.



As I said... all things pumpkin!! I got to have my first pumpkin spice latte of the year the other day. They are delicious!! I got mine in OKC but there is a Starbucks in the hospital here now, so I'm going to have to check it out soon and see if they have these delicious treats!!!