Crest Be!

Crest has a few new flavors...Lime Spearmint Zest, Mint Chocolate Trek, and Vanilla Mint Spark.  So far the boys have tried the Mint Chocolate Trek and love it.  Caiden really liked the fact that it tasted like chocolate mint ice cream.  

Taylor's tried the Vanilla Mint Spark and she said it just tasted like regular toothpaste but she's so picky so I'm going to have to have the boy's try it.  I'll write about that after they do.

Luvsome by Kroger

So I'm a BzzAgent and love getting new stuff to buy.  This post is going to be about the dog food we got from Kroger called Luvsome.  They have a wide range of foods for cats and dogs in both dry and wet formulas.   Since Mack doesn't do well with other brands of food that are mainly veggies we decided to try him on it.  We got the Skin and Coat formula for him.  He loves it!  His coat looks good and he doesn't itch like he usually does.  I think we're going to switch the other dogs over to it as well.  

Hello!

I know it's been awhile since I've blogged.  I get in moods...one day I can't stop writing, the next I don't want to talk or write about anything.  We're going back to one of those writing moods...:)

Today I'm going to do a few reviews for products I got for free from BzzAgent.  I have dog food from Kroger and Crest Be toothpaste.  They're going to have their own post but I wanted to say "hello!" before I posted them.  

I thought summer was supposed to be a time to relax, not around here!  Taylor has been to her aunt's, to her Nana's, to Gatlinburg, to camp and over at her boy friends house all this summer.  Oh let's not forget that color guard has started back for the year.  She's on the leadership team so she's had to meet with the other a couple of times too.  Next week she has band camp the whole week.  Then we're having her sweet 16 party for her on Aug 2nd.  I can't believe my baby girl will be 16.  Only 2 more years and she's off to college!!!  

Speaking of college, Nathan will be heading down there in less than a month.  We're getting excited about that.  I got his laptop for him and today his book bag, robe and some towels came in.  Still have tons of things to get for him before he goes but it's a start.

Caiden's also starting to have a busy summer.  Football has started!  He's been doing conditioning but hasn't been too happy with it...lol.  I told him if he didn't want to go we could take away his xbox and he didn't like that.  So he's been going and complaining the whole way there.

Alright that's all for now, I want to post about the free things.

Valentine's Day

While most married couples were having a nice night out my husband had to work.  Now don't get me wrong I'm so grateful I have a loving husband that is a hard worker, but I can guarantee you that the people he works with were all out with their wives.  But instead of cancelling the reservation we had I took the kids and we had a nice dinner. 

2/20/14

Today was a day of mixed emotions....for the first time in over 10 years I went on an interview.  Not a lot of people know I'm looking for something else so I haven't posted anything about it on Facebook.  I probably won't even post this one to Facebook.  I currently love my job...other then pledge drives when at least one of us ends up crying it's ok for the most part.  I get to work when I want...I like the people I work with...I just need to find something that takes out taxes.  I think however that this year we are going to take our taxes to an accountant to have them figured out.  I don't know I just get depressed thinking about it.  I did like the job I interviewed for today.  I have mixed feelings about it though.  I don't know if I want to add to my work load but I think getting up and getting out of the house will do me some good.  The job is at a local church in their office.  The hours are 10 - 2 so I still wouldn't have to get up too early, and I would be off early enough to pick up the kids or take them to practices.  That and have time to do my other job.  So I have that on my mind.  That was the excitement for the day.
The sadness part is that a good friend is going through cancer again.  She's been through so much in her life and I hate that she'd having to deal with this.  I hate that I live so far away that I can't help her.  I hate cancer!
My mother is moving...she's been in the house she's at for over 20 years.  I'm glad she's moving because I'm convinced the house is full of mold.  I think after she gets out of there she'll feel better.  But the move is bittersweet.  A lot of memories where made in that house.  I hate that she's moving right now because I can't be there to help like I want to.  She's moving during my busy time and I can't take off to help her pack.  I think I might go Saturday or Sunday depending on how much work I have.  She won't be getting the key to her new place until March 1st but that's just a week or so away.  I'm thankful my brother in law will have a bunch of young men to help. Of course we've moved all our lives, across states, across towns and the best part is the unpacking, it's like Christmas you find things you never knew you had...or you forgot about...lol.  That and you get a clean house.  I told David the other day the house was dirty we needed to move.  I actually look forward to the day the kids are all out of the house and we can move into something in the mountains.
Another thing I've had to deal with this past week is my ex.  He was actually let out of prison early by a couple of months.  He doesn't deal with me so I don't worry about him much.  But he has gotten on Facebook and starts sharing Taylor's pictures saying that's his daughter and she looks just like him.  Sometimes this doesn't help things here at home.  Taylor will put up with him for some things but then gets mad when he starts talking about wanting to do this and that with her.  She knows we can't get him to pay child support but he uses the excuse that I won't let him see her.  Which is far from the truth.  She doesn't want to see him.  I think it upsets her when he starts talking bad about me.  She knows who's been there for her.  I just don't get why it is that people think they are parents when they live so far away and never take care of the child.  Since the day my children were born or came to me they have always gotten what they needed or wanted over me.  It's been that way for the past 15 years, yet there are people out there that care more about their wants then their kids.  I just don't get it.

Well that's it for me tonight.  If you got this far, thanks for reading my ramblings.  Please keep my friend and her family in your prayers, and my mother as well.

Good Night!

Day 1 - Snow Day! 2/11/14

So today GA shut down because of the threat of snow and ice.  It snowed here...for about 15 minutes then after it was on the ground it melted.  It wasn't even cold enough to stick!  I'm seeing all these other pictures of people with snow and yet we don't have any.  Looks like the kids are out of school tomorrow too.  Fun Fun!  Thank goodness David's home so he can yell at them.  I'm just glad I work from home.  If we do lose power he's got the generator gassed up so I can at least have internet and can work.  I hate that he can't go to work though.  What happened to global warming?  Oh wait that was last week!!!!  Remember last week??  It was in the 70's!?!?!?!? 

Come back 70's...I like being able to open windows to let the fresh air in.

Caiden's Blue & Gold Banquet - 2/7/14

This is Caiden's second year being in Cub Scouts.  This year he was a Webelos 1.  We worked on a lot of different badges this year and we had a few field trips.  Here are a few pictures of different things we did.

He went with his friend to Loop-a-rama and got a few loops and a badge. (Can't recall right off hand what it was.

We visited a Glass Blowing shop where they did several demonstrations for us.

We went to Good Dirt in Athens and played with clay!

We were working together on this activity.  The boys had to build a carrying device to move water through a course.

Caiden leading the flag ceremony.

Boys getting badges.

Pack 97

Here are the boys at the banquet telling about the history of the colors and also singing a silly song.

Crochet Along and Other Craft Issues

Over the years I've done some sort of craft and it changes with the times.
In my stash I have cross stitching kits, yarn, knitting needles, looms, crochet hooks and a tub of just miscellaneous craft stuff.  I also have books on quilting because I so want to learn how to quilt.  All my life growing up my mother sewed for us.  She made clothes most of the time, or costumes or stuffed animals.  I never was into sewing but for awhile now I've wanted to learn how to quilt.  The only thing is I don't have the room or a sewing machine...lol.  I'm dreaming of the day when we have an extra room because the kids have moved out...lol.  When that happens I'll be able to move all "craft crap" out of my closet and out of my room.  As it stands right now it looks like a yarn shop threw up in my room.  That's fine with me but I don't think David is enjoying my stuff.

One thing I love about social media is the groups that you can find!  I have been part of The Crochet Crowd community for awhile now and love it!  They do several challenges and crochet-a-longs a year.  I love the Facebook page!  Several others in the community all over the world post their projects and it's truly and inspiration.

Currently they have three things going on.  The Crochet Along - Shimmery Hearts, the Monthly Challenge - Happy Hearts Afghan and the Creativ Festival Contest has Gone 'Mad! Mad for the Mad Hatters Contest!

I'm working on all three.  Well I've finished one scarf for the crochet along. I loved the way it turned out.

I'm in the process of working on the other two challenges but there's nothing to really show yet.  I'm tempted to make another one of those scarves.  It was fun and easy to do.  And the yarn is so fuzzy!!!  LOL

Bye for now!

Tortoise Cozy??

Yes, yes I've gone insane.  But they were just so cute I had to make one!!!  Now I've got to make another so that both torts have one but I had to show off the first one I did...lol.  The string hanging off is because I wanted to make sure it fit before I cut it and finished it off.  Caiden tried to use it on Jeffery tonight and he walked right out of it, I guess it wasn't cozy enough...lol.

Meet Jeffery and Skeeter!

Jeffery and Skeeter are the newest members of the family.  They are the baby Sulcata's we got for Christmas.  They were around 4 months old when we got them and we've had them for about a month now.  They are so cute!

The day we got them.  This is as we took them out of the box they came in.

Jeffery is the one on top and Skeeter is the one here in the corner.

In their new home.

Roaming around.

Skeeter enjoying the heat.

Jeffery checking out the new digs.

2013 Year in Review (Or what I can remember of it...lol)

My memory so stinks!  I try to write everything down but forget to do that even.  So I'm going to try to sum up everything...try!

In February Taylor, Jessie and I went with the church to Winterfest in Gatlinburg TN.  What a wonderful experience this is to spend with 2 of the most important girls in my life.  We got to spend the weekend with a great group of people from the church and grow in God.  We also got to experience the beauty God has created for us.

When we got home from Gatlinburg it was time for work to kick in full gear.  I'm lucky enough to have found a job, in Nov of 2006, where I work at home.  We have busy times and the last 2 weeks of February and the first 2 weeks of March are one of those times.  During this time, the first week in March we lost a loved fur baby.  Charlie crossed over the rainbow bridge.  He was a good dog.  When he came to us the woman that had him said he was about 8 or 9 years old.  I don't believe that was the case though.  We got him in Feb of 2006.  She told me that he had been in the Fulton Co Animal shelter twice before she adopted him.  I found him on a rescue site because she didn't want to have to take him back to a shelter.  He was a goofy dog and a boxer through and through.  He quickly became part of the family even in his grumpy moods.  I miss him, but know he's in a better place.

Charlie and Maggie

Later in March David had some friends come down and stay with us.  While they were here we got to drive down to Tybee Island, visit Helen and just hang out.  It was a nice visit.

In April, Taylor got to go on a trip with her band to Disney!  She had a great time and it was a good experience for her.  Wish I could have gone to see the fun she had but I'm glad I didn't...looked like a lot of walking!

In April we also had a visitor.  My brother came to stay with us for a bit.  It was at times trying because he can't sit still for a second...lol.  I did get my living room painted out of it.  I love the color and I'm so thankful my husband let him do it.

I also participated in a study at the University of GA about walking and what it does for your bones.  I felt great while I was doing the study and continued to walk up until football season ended for Caiden.  I'm going to get back at in once everything settles down around here.

With May flowers (get it...April showers bring May flowers)... we had the boys birthdays, and we school got out.  J turned 20...I still can't believe he's that old. N turned 17.  He'll be graduating this year and then we'll be left with 2.

Just when you thought things were quiet...NOPE!  June brought the dance recital (and another busy time for me at work).  Taylor has turned into such a graceful, beautiful young woman and I know dancing has helped.  She didn't get to dance for the 2013-2014 year because the studio closed and well frankly with Caiden playing football we didn't have time.  But that's later.  The recital was just beautiful.  We had a few tributes and Mrs. Marci was a trooper through them all.   She had just lost her mother the month before and was still struggling with that at recital.  Knowing what it's like to lose a parent I was just glad she had so many people around her to support her.

Picture was taking May of 2013 but it's her dance picture.  The 2 below are from 2012 recital.  I love them too and wanted to show the difference a year makes.

We also had our 11th anniversary in June.  I was sick and we never did get to the shooting range.

The end of school brings the scattering of kids.  At least for a little bit.  You would think summer would be peaceful and quiet...nope!  Nathan was in FL with his mom, Jaycob was in Gainesville as the youth intern and Taylor, well she was just all over the place.  This summer however she didn't get to do the Tour de GA like she usually does.  She did get to spend some time with her Aunt over on the other side of the state and she did get to visit Nana and Jessie.  The kids also had church camp the first week in July.  While they were gone we got the pool up and I redecorated Taylor's room for her birthday.  When we moved into this house she wanted it pink.  She's outgrown the pink and now I wanted her to have a more grown up place.  You can read about the week the kids were gone to camp here.
Also while the kids were away we got the pool put up.  I do have to say Taylor worked hard for this pool.  She was all about helping get the foundation laid and it was a chore.

Started before they left for camp.

Finished while they were at camp.

When they got back from camp we (Caiden, David, mom and I) left for Gatlinburg.  Mom has a timeshare up there for a week in July.  The girls and Jaycob were to take care of the house and the dogs while we were gone.  We had a great time while there.  We got to spend time with Matt & Jamie and the girls as well as Nana.  The beauty of God sure does shine through in the mountains.  I can't wait to retired and live up there.  On the way home we went to the top of the mountain where the clouds just rolled over the tops.  It was so awesome to be there.

When we got back Taylor got her braces put on!  She's so needed braces for a bit and now she's got them.  I can't believe it's only been 6 months and her smile is already looking so much better.

In July we also start band camp and other practices for color guard.
Caiden started football for the first time!  I wasn't sure he was going to make it through the first practice but I told him there was no crying in football and he did great!  By the end of the season he loved it!  We were so proud of him, we had so much going on during the season and he stuck with it.  He even bruised his finger on the first practice...but he stuck with it!

Oh and lets not forget Taylor turned 15.  Jessie came over and we took her to eat and then hung out at Walmart...lol.

August!  What can I say?  The worst month of all.  The older kids had open house on August 7th.  It started out as a good day.  We went in to get the kids schedules and meet some of the teachers then we headed to get something to eat.  Taylor was arguing with me so I decided to call mom to have it settled when we heard the worst news.  Jessie had been hit by a drunk driver and was air lifted to a trauma hospital but we didn't know where.  I've always claimed Jessie as one of my own.  I'm not sure how she isn't...lol.  The month of August was a blur, it was hours at the hospital in the meantime arranging rides for the kids so they can make it to their after school activities and try to keep some "normalcy" for the kids.  With Jessie in the hospital I was too busy stressing about her I didn't get time to stress about the fact it was dad's birthday.  Also while Jessie was in the hospital Connie was a life saver and came down and spent a month.  Jessie didn't want her leaving her side so Connie didn't get much sleep.  She spent 24/7 in the hospital with Jessie.  I don't know if Connie realizes how much of a relief it was to have her here.  The stress of mom driving back and forth to the hospital put her in the hospital as well.  So not only were we dealing with Jessie being in Atlanta in the hospital, we had mom in Gainesville in the hospital.  Luckily mom was only in there for a few nights.  UGH!  August sucked!

Let's move on to September.  It was a better month.  Jessie was in Grady for 2 weeks then she moved to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for rehab.  Once she got there a little of the stress was off the family.  We were able to get on with life.  School was in full swing Caiden had football, Taylor had color guard and Nathan being a senior was inducted into JGG (Jobs for GA Graduates).  They actually used his drawing for their logo which is pretty cool.

By the end of September Jessie was out of the hospital and back home going to rehab and doing home study for school.  She was still in a lot of pain but getting better every day.  She even got to come see Taylor perform during halftime.

OCTOBER!  Wow that was a busy month.  First Taylor got her learners permit.  Scary I know!  She's driven a few times but then got in trouble for lying so hasn't been driving lately.  Not that I'm complaining...she scared me!  LOL

We also had homecoming in October.  Not just for Taylor and Nathan but for Caiden too.  It was so cute!  Caiden walked with a cheerleader from the older team.  They were so cute! I can't find the pics right now so I'll have to add them later.  The older kids went to the Homecoming dance at school.  I do have to say they make pretty awesome young adults if I do say so myself.  Nathan went with a friend and Taylor went stag.  Jessie was here that weekend to help Taylor get ready.  She turned out beautiful if I do say so myself.  Jessie and I did her hair.  When I was in school we didn't dress up for the homecoming dance like they do.  We also had the dance

Of course we have Jessie's birthday and Halloween in Oct as well.  Both on the same day!  Since it was in the middle of the week we celebrated Jessie's birthday in Nov.  Here's a picture of mom with "the girls".

November had another sad day.  I lost another one of my furbabies.  Jack went into heart failure and I had to put him down.  I called Jack my junkyard dog.  I have always imagined his life before I found him.  It looks like he was in several fights and could have possibly broken a few bones.  I also felt he had an old soul.  He wasn't your typical hyper Boston Terrier but a mellow laid back old man.  I found him at the pound while I was looking for a dog we had lost.  He was in the last kennel sitting up on his little bed just shaking.  I couldn't leave him there. So I told David I got him for me for Mother's Day.  That was back in May of 2004.  Once we got him home he was happy to be there but he acted like he would be happier being an only dog. So I went on the hunt to find him the perfect old couple that would keep him forever as their only dog.  I thought I had found the couple when they called me a few days later.  After they got Jack they got another Boston who was obnoxious and Jack didn't like her.  So I went and brought him home.  Then I found another family would had kids but had a big back yard and swore they weren't going to get another dog.  That was before Christmas.  In April of the next year I get a call from the woman, they had lost their home and couldn't keep him and wanted to know if I wanted him back, if I didn't take him they were going to have to take him back to an animal shelter.  Well I wasn't going to have that!  So Jack came home again.  I picked him up and he was so excited to see me.  He knew who I was and couldn't wait to get in the car with me and go.  When we got home the first thing he did was run out to the cow pasture and roll in the cow patties.  It was so funny.  That day I knew he was home for good.  He was happy with us and tolerated the other dogs.  He didn't mind sharing the bed with them so I decided I'd keep him forever.  I do have to say he did have an adventurous side to him.  He LOVED skunks and chasing cars so much so that he decided to chase one at 2 AM.  I had let him and Belle out to go potty and when he didn't come home I freaked out.  I kept calling for him and eventually he made his way home.  He had a severely broken leg that had to end up being amputated.  After that day he was Jack my 3-legged pirate dog!  I loved that 3-legged dog and miss him!

November brought on another adventure!  We went down to see a Georgia Southern football game.  It was so much fun!  They won of course and we had a great time.  The boys drove down and back that day.  While us girls drove down the night before and stayed that night.  Jessie and Nathan even got to take a picture with the eagle.  Taylor was with us when we found the eagle but she hates birds so wouldn't get in the picture...lol.

Caiden's birthday was also in Nov.  Because his aunt and uncle were going to be out of town during thanksgiving we opted to take him to the mall of Georgia.  I think it was Jamie's idea to go...I don't know what possessed her to go to a mall during the shopping season!  But we went to see a movie and the kids rode the carousal.  Then we decided to take the kids to Chuck E Cheese.  They had so much fun!

December was a pretty good month as well.  Usually during the holidays I stress out big time.  I don't know if it's because I was so busy at work, or if it was the fact that I wasn't stressing about what to get the kids but it went pretty smooth.  I did find myself having to take the helm at work.  My boss had to have surgery and just wasn't recovering like he wanted to.  So all during the drive we were constantly telling him to go lay down.  LOL!  The kids I do have to say had a good Christmas and they got what they asked for, with the exception of Nathan, he wanted some watch phone but I wasn't going to waste my money on that so I bought him a tv and a roku instead.  He was happy with that.  I have to say the neatest gift I got a kid was the tortoises...they are so cute!
I had Caiden convinced that the tortoises were his only Christmas present until Christmas day when he walked in with Uncle John and saw his bike...It was so funny.  We were all sitting in the back room and he walks in with us staring at him and he says "that's not creepy at all"...he was to fixated on us staring at him he didn't even see his bike.  Here's the video.
Here are the torts.  They are so cute!  You'll be seeing a lot of them I'm sure!  LOL

Well that's about it.  After Christmas the kids scattered.  The older boys went to FL and Taylor went to spend time with her aunt.  Caiden stayed home and we enjoyed the peace and quiet.  New Year's Eve was nothing special.  Caiden spent the night next door and David was out before 12.  I stayed up and protected the shaking dogs from the fireworks...lol.  After they settled down I was able to watch some Netflix.

So that's it!  If you made it this far I hope you're not too bored.  It's been a long year and I'm so ready for whatever it is 2014 has in store.  Happy New Year Y'all!