Yes, I am this crazy

The other day I had to grocery shop and by "had to" I mean it was Tuesday and thus the last day for that weeks sales. I had all my stuff together and there were lots of deals I had to have.  You all know I am a bargain shopper and I can't pass up a deal.  Wyatt had baseball practice that evening so that killed any thought of waiting for Shane to come home.

So what is a girl to do??


that is right load all the kids up and head to the store, and pray to God above you don't have to abandon ship mid way thru:) 

I have to brag on them though they all were very good. Abby had to walk because we ran out of room in the buggy & poor L could barely be seen from all the frozen foods and cereal boxes!

Wordful Wednesday

You know me I can never just show a picture and keep my mouth shut.

So I am jumping in on some Wordful Wednesday posting.

The other day I met up with a friend at the zoo, we had the great idea of oh it is sooo close to school that surely there would be no field trips there. WRONG I think I saw 3 different counties school buses:)


Aren't they SO cute checking out the giraffe together? He was so close to the fence

Either way it was a ton of fun. We love the zoo and go all the time and I really enjoy telling the kids if they misbehave I will lock them in one of the cages!

Want some more wordful wednesday? Check out Angie

We are back, and no one fell out of the boat!

We got back late last night from our wonderful little getaway. We had a great time and the weather was nice and even though there were threats of rain it only ever sprinkled a bit.

We headed to Chattanooga early Saturday after dropping the kids and the dog, we weren't about to press our luck and ask Gram to keep the dog also, so he got dropped at a friends house.

We got checked into our really nice hotel.


and after checking out the room and deciding what to do, we headed down to the riverfront in search of some yummy food. We stopped here for some good outdoor dining.


Afterwards we walked around riverfront (I needed to walk off all the food I had just ate) and then we headed to a minor league baseball game.


We got back to the hotel pretty late and wanted some dessert, so we ordered up some room service and pigged out on Buttermilk Beignets with berries, Tennessee Chocolate Pecan Chunk Pie and since they were low on that they also gave us some Dark Chocolate Ganache Torte. Needless to say it was well worth the $$$$ it costs to order up some room service at 11pm!!

The next morning we headed down for some breakfast at their restaurant and walked away stuffed. We packed up our things and headed to the Ocoee river around 10am.

I was very nervous but very excited about the trip down the river. We arrived at Cherokee Rafting and got checked in and prepped by the guides.

Don't we look sexy?? :)

She told us some basics like what to do if you fall out of the boat (which was a major fear) and what would happen if you fell out and was unable to get back to your boat-basically she said they would see you at the end and hopefully maybe one of the other boats might pick you up. Yea she didn't help with my fear.

I ended up on a great boat, we were with the head guide and three other guys. So I felt pretty confident that had I fallen off one of them would have been able to rescue me, mainly my hubs who was given strick instructions by me not to let me fall in or else!

She had us SOAKED within 30 seconds and I had water up my nose most of the trip. It was SOOO much fun, even though the water was probably cold enough to cause hypothermia had you decided to go for a little swim. We have already talked about going again, mainly when it is hot and the COLD water feels much better to you.

The guide is in the back and that is Shane and I in front of her, the three other guys are in front of us.

Afterwards we headed back this way and stopped back in Chattanooga for some dinner. We had heard of a place to eat that was on the water and after some searching and a few phone calls we finally found The Boathouse Rotisserie and Raw Bar.

We had another great meal that included an awesome Mojito for me and some oysters, both of which made me long for our trip to the beach this summer even more.

All in all it was a great time, we have to take the time to do these little things more often. This is the first trip we have taken alone in years. The kids got spoiled up at Gram's house and I am pretty confident they didn't miss us one bit, even though they said they did I think they were just trying to save our feelings.

We're out of here

So that trip minus the kiddos is actually gonna come true-can I get a whooohoooo??

although I am a bit scared of what might become of me Sunday

Oh yea you guessed it this will be me on Sunday!! and I am a bit nervous.

I have never done this before and after reading the names they have given to the rapids only makes it worse

The kiddos will be getting spoiled up at Gram's house and will be full of junk food and sugar when we return. I think they will miss us, well I hope they at least realize we are gone.

Hope to be back minus injury to share lots of fun tells of our NOKIDS trip!

"Come eat here we'll throw food at you"

There is a new Japanese hibachi place that just opened down the road and they should seriously put this on their sign. I am sure it would attract all kinds of people to their brand new establishment!

We met with the FIL and his soon to be bride (as in tomorrow) last night for dinner, I had been anxiously awaiting the opening. We took the kids to one last year and they loved the dinner and the show put on by the chef.

I strategically placed Abby on the corner furthest away from the huge flames I knew would be coming:) She loved eating with chopsticks (of course they were kiddyised with the rubber band)

here she is eating rice like a pro


and her carrots


we didn't order her any food but the chef just kept piling it on her plate so needless to say I have plenty for lunch today. I also can't believe I am saying this but they had some really good sushi! YES I said SUSHI ya know the raw fish wrapped in seaweed:) We got Spicy Tuna rolls and yum I will be going back for more.

The very best part of the night though had to be the throwing of food at Wyatt in the form of smashed shrimps! We recently watched America's Funny videos and he saw a video of this and thought it was hilarious. So when I told him where we were eating he was all pumped about maybe getting it done to him. Much to his delight we had a wonderfully funny chef and he made Wyatt's wish come true-he didn't even have to ask. Shane was not so good and got hit in the eye with his shrimp!



Hope those others on the end don't mind being broadcast on the web it was her birthday and they were fun to sit with. That is Pappy and Mindi in the video by Wyatt and I am sure I have their permission to post them:)

Still no name!

Seriously I can not believe this poor thing still is nameless.



Well he's not 100% nameless, we have come up with a few but nothing has stuck. Maybe he will be Fetch since he loves to "fetch" the baseballs while Wyatt practices his hitting in the back yard. Wyatt wanted Friskers but yea I am not digging it. We have a 3 letter thing with the other pets Jet, Pib, and the cat that doesn't really call our house home anymore Doc. So who knows maybe someday he will have a name but for now he will just be kitty.

He is NUTS and will attack at any moment keeping you on your toes at all times.


I am pretty sure he didn't realize what he was in for when he showed up on my front porch that rainy Saturday afternoon. Abby literally carries him around like this all the time. Well except for when he slips a little and then he is gasping for air as she slowly chokes the life out of him:)

Spin Cycle: Can I have this dance?

So a couple of my favorite everyday reads jumped in on this fun little Spin Cycle that Sprite's Keeper is hosting. I have never gotten in on a spin cycle but this one was just to fun to pass up.

See I went to two proms both with the hubs-yep that's right we are high school sweethearts for those of you who have been living in a hole and didn't know that already. I was a junior he was a senior when we went in get this 1995! Yep I am not that old. Then we went to my senior Prom in 1996.

I can't remember the themes-Help me out here Liz I know you can!

Both years it was a big group of friends. We had 5 couples (i think), I am still friends with most of them and actually the little girls I babysit are the daughters of one of the guys. One year it was at Opryland Hotel and the next it was at the convention center in downtown. Can't remember where we ate but I know it was someplace that was pretty pricey especially the second time when Shane was a college student and only had a part time job.

**ETA**

so my good friend who was with me at both proms reminded me that our senior year theme was Wonderful Tonight. Also one of the years I think our senior we ate at this fancy steak house called Ruth Cris and one of the guys ordered a grilled cheese, remember this Jam? I had totally forgotten

Neither year was there a limo, see we were what they called hicks in high school:) Shane drove his truck both years. I remember the first year I had to step on a milk crate and hike my dress up to get in the Ford Ranger! The next year it was a Pathfinder with big ol tires cause yes that is how we rolled!! There were no tux pants and ugly used shoes in their place were black jeans and black boots.

1995



I sold this dress to a friend and she wore it the next year

1996

I still have this dress I could maybe get it over my knees but that is about it!

I don't think either year I had a curfew, most of us were out together til late in the night. I also seem to remember a trip to waffle house the next morning for breakfast. We used to find ourselves at the awful waffle on a regular basis.

It was alot of fun digging thru all the old pics to find the ones I wanted. Looking back on those pics made me realize cameras really sucked back then. There were lots of fuzzy, dark pictures and lots of cut off heads. I also love that Shane and I look back at all our fun, no responsibilities times together and laugh and also be scared in the fact that someday we will also be the parents of teenagers!OMG

Dogs, Frogs, and Oh Yea Happy Mother's Day

So yep it was Mother's Day yesterday, a day to celebrate my greatness as the wonderful mommy the we all know I am.

How would such a day be celebrated? Breakfast in bed after sleeping in late? Pampering mommy while she sits and does nothing? A trip to the spa? A yummy not cooked by me lunch? and other great things that don't require much work from me?

Yea not so much. There was a wonderful breakfast prepared by the hubs and kids that consisted of homemade (Bisquick) heart shaped biscuits, with chocolate gravy and fruit with dip. Unfortunately said breakfast was eaten way to early for my liking in about 10 minutes as we had to rush out of the house. Shane didn't even get to enjoy the breakfast that we scarfed down so fast we were barely able to enjoy it. But it was the thought that counts-right?

Where were we off to in such a hurry at such an early hour? Why a hunt test for the beloved dog of course!

Shane had ran her Saturday and needed to also run her Sunday so she could earn her title. She passed both days with flying colors and is now officially worth more;) any takers? j/k kinda

Saturday evening we went to the dinner and to pick up her ribbon. They also had a junior handler run and Wyatt ran Jet in it. He did awesome and had daddy not been standing to close she would have come to Wyatt and heeled instead of going to daddy which is where she knows she is suppose to go:) He also got a blue ribbon which he is very proud of.


All joking aside I did have a good time with the fam yesterday, the kids loved playing with the other kids and just getting to have a care free day with the occasional check in with mom or dad. There was LOTS and LOTS of mud since we have gotten almost 7 inches of rain since the start of May! We almost had to swim to the back to watch Jet do her water run, only the swimming was in mud. Wyatt fell in it first thing and was covered knee down.

Here is my girl fetching up a duck in the water.

Yes ducks were harmed in the making of this weekend sorry all you duck lovers out there

One of the things is you have to wear camo as not to distract the dogs. Here is my girl just putting all the camoed others to shame with her OMG to cuteness


Also while watching the water runs the kids discovered that the frogs ran plentiful and the hunt began. They picked up three in a matter of minutes. This was much more interesting to them then the tests being ran!


And another to prove my girl even though she has her girly side is not afraid to slip into the tomboy role as needed.

Yes that is a frog crawling out of her pocket they wanted to keep it and were trying to figure a way to smuggle it out.

me and my loves on mommy's day

No I didn't have on my camo shirt I bought this one there that day to support a guy who is donating half his profits to breast cancer


And here is how the day ended!

Yep that is 3 buckets of water being dumped on Wyatt and the hubs. It is a tradition at the hunt club to water you down when you dog earns a title. Shane made Wyatt join him hence the holding him in his lap.

Oh and what do you get a wonderful mommy like me for her day? Why these of course!

Oh yea I am that loved! Now aren't you jealous of me?

Writer's Workshop Thursday

The Prompts:

1.) Create a video for your blog (vlog) and participate in Tim's "vlogemotions" by talking about an emotion you've felt this week. -Yea I don't have time and plus the kids are so freaking loud it would drive you insane!

2.) Do you want a baby? -Um yea NO, well if we get like mega rich and I can have a big ol house with a nanny and a housekeeper I would have 2 more because even though I puke my guts out a majority of the time and I barely sleep I loved being pregnant and birthing kids is a piece of cake for me:)

3.) Who got in big trouble this week? -Can we make a list?

4.) Write a poem for your mother.-Um yea NOOOO haven't I mentioned her craziness

5.) Time for a trip? Where are you headed this summer?...Or where would you go if you Could. -OH yea this one is right up my alley.

Well like I mentioned yesterday hubs and I are headed somewhere out of town in a couple weeks ALONE!  Can I get a woooohoooo! This is what we are doing for our anniversary, we have never been anywhere out of town with out the kids.  Don't get me wrong I love my kids but I spend all day everyday with them and mama needs a break!

A couple weeks ago I made our reservations for our trip to the beach. Oh yea I am so excited I LOVE the beach and would go for like a month if I could. Unfortunately it will only be a week long trip though. This will be year 5 that we have gone to this place and we Love it.

So come July these will always be close by as I sit on the warm white sand and listen to the waves


There will be lots of lounging in the sun, floating in the ocean, eating yummy food, and just generally being lazy. Oh and I will be forcing my family to pose for lots of photos!




Then maybe if I can convince my hubs, come August we may take a short trip to The Outer Banks and meet up with his sis, her hubs and 2 kids. Heck it is Free we just have to get there why the hell wouldn't we go don't you remember I love the beach!

Want to see some more Writer Workshops?
Go visit Mama Kat

Happy 9 LONG years

May 6, 2000 at approximately 6:15 I became a Mrs.

I can't believe we have been married almost an entire decade and have been together for 14 1/2 yrs I really don't feel old enough but I guess I am :)

I ♥ this man with all my heart, sure he gets on my nerves some and sure we have our fights but in the end we know how much the other loves us no matter what.

I looked back at last year's post and loved the pics I shared so I thought I would link you up so you can look back at how much we have aged together over the many years.

8 years ago today

and here are some of my favorite man and I over the last year




Not sure what special plans we have just yet but know that tonight it will be a fun filled night at the little league ballpark, well unless it is rained out AGAIN!

We are planning a get away withOUT kids in the next few weeks it is just a matter of figuring out where we want to go on a tight budget.

It's whats for dinner III

The other day while grocery shopping I sampled this Apron's meal from Publix and I was sold on it. I only needed a couple things to make it so I wasn't suckered into it.

With it being Cinco De Mayo I thought this recipe would fit right in.

Yesterday of course my sous chef was Abby.

Here she is helping out with the corn salad:


It is simple:
Corn-I used frozen that I cut off the cob
one can of black beans, drained
diced up tomato
diced up onion
1T honey
1/2 cup Mojo liquid marinade

Mix it all together and set in fridge

Then onto the main course.
Brown ground beef it says to add some onion but I didn't. Add taco seasoning I also used more than 1T, add water and taco rice mix (I used Knorr), cover it and cook til the water is gone. Then put some chips on top, pour taco sauce over, then sprinkle it with cheese. I then threw it in the oven for a few minutes to warm the chips.

And tada this is what you get:

Yep there is an area with no cheese because my son who if it wasn't for him being a spitting image of his daddy I would think was switched at birth because get this he doesn't like cheese! WTH who doesn't like warm ooey, gooey melted cheese?

It was a hit with the family they all ate it right up Wyatt asked for seconds of the meat stuff not the corn salsa and Abby loved eating the salsa on chips. So this will be entered into our rotation of meals that my entire family will actually eat.

Want more dinner ideas?
Slow cooker Tex Mex Chicken
Slow cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Yes we have a Mexican theme thing going on but hey I do what works!

Look who showed up on my door step

I mean seriously I need this like I need another hole in my head, but how am I suppose to say no to that face?

It all started Saturday when I saw a shadow thru my blinds, I peeked out & saw him on my window seal, he was on the front porch to get out of the rain. Shane who is NOT a cat person and swears he hates cats (crazy considering his profession) couldn't even tell the little guy no. So I picked him up gave him some food and Shane took him to work swearing he would not be coming home here-Whatever. He got the once over today and had some unnecessaries removed and brought back HOME here today:) daddy is such a push over for two cuties who develop a quick love for a cute little kitty-That may I add has NO name. About that I am open to any and all suggestions.

He is settling in nicely and making friends immediately




But there are some (well one) that aren't so fond of him.  Well he is at least pretending to not like him by occasionally smacking him in the face and hissing at him.  But then when the kitten walks away guess who follows:)


He purrs like a motor boat every time you pick him up and pet him. He seems starved for affection and food and has developed a love of my fingers.