Fun Monday

Peter over at http://holtieshouse.blogspot.com is this week's host. Here are our instructions...


I want you to tell us your favorite joke and/or show usyour favorite cartoon, don’t worry if there is someduplication that just means more than one personfound it funny.So come on and regale us with your best joke and/orcartoon, remember its New Years Eve and we feellike a good laugh, before 2008 comes along and does its thing on us.

We had a "going away" party yesterday for a lady at our Little Rock claim office. One of the supervisors called a Wal-Mart and ordered the cake. He told them to write: "Best Wishes Suzanne" and underneath that "We will miss you". As the picture shows, it didn't quite turn out right. It was too funny not to keep it.

I chose this because I worked at Wal-Mart for years. My poor husband still works there. I'll say one thing for them, they sure can hire some talented people!! LOL!!!

Christmas Morning

Our morning began around 7:30 when we heard Logan coming down the hall towards our room. He laid with us for a few minutes before we heard Braden. We went ahead and got up and took the boys into the dining room where the tree was. Santa had came.

Braden got a Thomas the train comforter. Logan got a Diego chair. Abigail got a diaper bag with her name on it. We gave the boys their stockings to open. They were working on them when Abby woke up. This is the first year that Braden has had any interest in opening presents. Logan tore the paper long enough to get a piece he could play with then he was satisfied. Abby ripped the paper better than I thought she would.

All in all, I am proud of us this year. We didn't go overboard with the kids presents. We really didn't spend alot on them at all. We got each of them a few things that we knew they would like and a few things that they needed and that was it. Our boys are great. They would be happy with just one new toy. We are so blessed to have 3 wonderful children. That is the best Christmas gift of all. Abby waving to daddy

GO VOLS!! (This is daddy's boggin.)

Logan and his dino jammies from Abby

Braden opening his choo-choo

Abby and her glo worm. (Each of the kids received one on their first Christmas. Mama got Braden his.)

Abby and her chewie

Abby with her stocking

Braden playing with his stocking toys.

(See that box of Reece's Pieces-it didn't last long!)

Logan kinda opening one of his presents.

Abby watching Braden open a present.

Logan in his Diego chair under his Diego blanket.

Twas the night before Christmas...

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

Christmas Eve Traditions

Abby opening her Christmas jammies

Abby getting ready for bed (& santa)

Braden in his Christmas pjs

Logan in his pjs

When my brother and I were little we always got to open one present on Christmas eve. It was always pajamas. We got pajamas EVERY year. They were always red or green. I now know that it was so we would be cute in our Christmas morning pictures. :) My mom wanted to continue the tradition with my kids. She bought Braden his first pair of Christmas pjs. The next year she bought Braden's and then Logan's first pair also.



I am continuing this tradition. Last year I had a terrible time finding Christmas pjs. This year I started looking EARLY!! I was able to find pjs for both the boys and Abby. I think they are all so cute!!!

Christmas Eve Dinner

My side of the family has always done our "thing" on Christmas eve. Mama started this tradition and I am not about to end it. This year I cooked for Jamie, my brother, Jamie, his girlfriend (confusing? YES), and my dad. We ate turkey and dressing and all the trimmings. Then we opened our gifts. This is really the first year that Braden has been interested in opening presents. Logan ripped the paper long enough to get a strip of it then he was done. (He is very interested in paper right now.) Surprisingly, to me, Abby opened her gifts also, though not as fast as Braden. :) Braden and Logan both got a John Deere pedal tractor from Pa. They are really going to enjoy those this summer! We all had a very good time visiting with each other. This was, of course, Abby's first Christmas and she was a very big hit!

Abigail in her santa hat

Abby & her Uncle Jamie

Abby eating some mashed taters

Braden obviously happy with his new movie

Logan opening his present from Pa

Abby opening presents with mommy

Abby with the "other" Jamie

Logan opening presents with daddy

Abby and Braden with Pa

Logan and Pa

I have been TAGGED!!

Cynthia over at http://halefamilysite.blogspot.com/ tagged me. (Thanks alot!)



Here are the rules:



The tag rules are: 1) Link to the person who tagged you. 2) Post the rules on your blog. 3) Share 7 facts about yourself. 4) Tag 7 random people and include links to their blogs. 5) Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I absolutely positively cannot stand for my face to be wet. It drives me crazy!!


2. I have a problem with textures. I will not eat onions, celery, peppers, radishes, etc because of their texture.


3. I have had my mouth wired together for 9 weeks. (It was only supposed to be 3, but I'm not that lucky.)


4. I can't sing a lick. I would give anything to be able to. I LOVE to sing, I just can't.


5. I would like to breed and train dogs for the disabled.


6. I love cars. Old cars mostly. I would like to restore and old Chevrolet Bel Aire.


7. My favorite class in college was Geology. I really enjoyed everything about the class.

I am tagging:

1. Tabetha


2. Alison


3. Natalie


4. Shannon


5. Ashley


6. (I'll get back with you.)

Fun Monday

This week's host is Kitten. You can check her blog out at...kittens-homeschool.blogspot.com.

Today for Fun Monday I thought it would be neat to hear about the story behind your home and the road you live on. It doesn't have to be historical, maybe just something that stands out to you. It would be nice to have pictures to go with your little story. I also would like to know who has the oldest house. Whoever has the oldest house will get a little Christmas treat from little ole me.

The house that I live in has alot of history. Fortunately, for me, it's all my history. My Mom had this house built in 1971. She was the first single woman in this county to recieve a FMHA loan. To receive this loan, she had to have one acre of land. This is the exact amount that her dad, my Pa, deeded to her. She had it built, with trouble from the contractors, because she was a single woman.

The house is brick, it had 2 bedrooms and 2 baths originally. She had the drive paved and a small back deck. It also has a basement. There were bricks left over after the house was built. The contractor stole them. There is actually a front porch on a house on Pike Hill Road that is my mom's. :)

This is the house that I lived in from the time I was born in 1979, until I moved out in 1997. I grew up in this house. It was the only home that I ever knew. Most people can't say that, they move at least once during their childhood. I had a very strong emotional attachment to this house.

When my brother was born in 1984, my parents decided that we needed to add on to the house. They added another HUGE bedroom and another bath. I got their room and my brother kept the room that we had shared. Other than that, the house had never been remodeled or updated, except for carpet. It had black paneling throughout the kitchen, den, and hallway. The guest bathroom was black and red. It had a black and red toilet and a red bathtub. It just screamed 70's!! My mom wasn't "into" decorating or redecorating so it stayed the same. At least until she died in 2005.

I never wanted to live in this house. I actually didn't like the house when I was growing up. I don't like change, so I would have had a difficult time moving. This house is far from my dream house, yet I felt like I needed to move back home. I couldn't imagine selling it. I couldn't imagine someone else living in MY home. I discussed it with Trad and he felt the same way. We immediately started remodeling.

We primered and painted EVERY surface that could be painted. We painted the ceilings, sanded, primered and painted the paneling, painted every room, all the wood trim we painted white. We updated with new white interior doors. We got rid of the red bathtub and everything that went with it. We put hardwood floors down. We replaced all the light fixtures in the house except one. The light in the foyer I kept. It is an old harness for a wagon or plow. The only thing I did was update the globes.

We have twice as much room as we had in our little house in town. Each of the boys had their own room. At least until Abby was born. We moved the boys into my old room when I was a teenager. I got to bring my little girl home from the hospital, to the house and room that was mine when I was born. I find so much comfort in that. I think that is so unusual, especially in today's world.

I am happy that I am able to live in this house that my mother built. I am content here even though it isn't my "dream home." I am proud of my home and all the memories that I have here. Maybe one day one of my children will live here with their family also.

Pete & RePete...

Do you see the resemblance??

This is a picture of Abby and my dad. Everyone calls him Pete, even though that isn't his name. (That must be a southern thing, one of my aunts, my mom and myself were all called something else. Or maybe it's just our family!!) This picture was too cute to not share!

My dad works hard. He always has. When I was little he worked full time at Carrier and he and my mom had a chimney sweep business also. He still works for Carrier, just out of town now. He also runs a farm. I know that this is hard work and I don't see how he does it.

He lives just down the road from us but we hardly ever see him. He is too busy to stop and I know if we go down there alot it only takes away from the time he has to get his work done. He loves it when the kids come down there though. Logan is in his element down there. He LOVES being outside. He just runs and runs. He doesn't seem to mind all the animals either. He just ignores them like he does his sister!

Everyone loves a blanket!!!

Hmmm...Let's see what I am doing here.
I saw this fleece fabric at Hobby Lobby and I had to have it. The puzzle piece pattern is the symbol for autism awareness. I though it was appropriate. I am making 2 tie blankets, one for Braden and one for a very special family we know. Hopefully they won't meander over here and see it! I though I would share exactly how I make them in case someone else wants to make one too!! It is relatively inexpensive and easy to do. I bought this fabric for 5.99 and 7.99 a yard.

For an kid/adult blanket you need 1 1/2 yards of fabric in 2 different coordinating patterns. (For a baby blanket use 1 yard of fabric.)

Place the fabric on top of each other with the right sides facing out. Trim the fabric so that it is roughly the same size. You then need to decide how long you want your fringe to be. I think mine is around 3 inches. The most important part of the blanket is making sure you cut a "square" out at each corner. (Shown above.)


After you cut the square on each corner you need to go around the entire fabric cutting your fringe. It doesn't have to be perfect. You can make the fringe as wide/narrow as you like. The wider, the less cuts and ties you have to make. (brilliant!!) Although, I think the narrow ties better. It's your choice. To keep up with the length of the fringe, (that does need to be about the same) I made a mark on my scissors to use as a guide. Start at one corner and go all the way around the fabrics (they are still on top of each other) so that you are cutting both pieces of fabric at once.
Once you get done cutting the fringe, it is time for the tying. Start at one corner and take a piece of fringe from both fabrics, one on top of the other, and tie a knot.

A single knot, not a double. Tie the fringe tight the first time around so you don't have to go back over it.

You will want to make sure that you tie each knot the same way. You want the fringe from the top pattern to be on the bottom side, and vice versa. (see above pic.) It doesn't have to be this way, but I think it looks much better like this.

This is how the fringe will look as you are tying it. Just go all the way around the fabric tying the knots in the same way.

This is what your finished product will look like!! It only takes an hour or so to do.

After you finish roll it up and use a scrap piece of fabric to tie it with.

I had so much fun making this!! I love that it is no sew!!

Ready for giving!!!!!!!!!!!

Should've been a Cowboy!!

Let me be the first to tell you that this scene is really weird. My boys do not like ANYTHING on their heads. We don't do caps, toboggans, party hats, ear muffs, hoods, nothing. We no longer even attempt it because it causes such meltdowns. Logan has been wearing this cowboy hat VOLUNTARILY. He puts it on himself and wears it around. Strange, very very strange.

This hat has some history to it. It was my brother, Jamie's hat when he was around Logan's age. He used to walk around with it on and cowboy boots. No matter what he had on, he wore this hat and cowboy boots. Even with shorts. He was so cute! He had this plastic guitar that he would play too. We actually have him on tape doing this. His favorite song to sing was "Honky tonk man" by Dwight Yokam. What memories!!

Why do my boys always have dirty faces?? The more I wash them, the dirtier they get!!

This picture just screams "redneck." I think its the teeth!

He's really getting excited that I'm taking so many pictures of him.

Now he looks like a country singer. They all have their cowboy hats so far down on their heads you wonder if they have faces!

I think he is done with the photo shoot. No more Mom!!

Now We're Cookin'

Isn't she so sweet?! This spoon is a little bit big for her just yet, but it kept her entertained while I got the dishes washed!

I can't believe that she is almost 6 months old already!! She is getting so big, so fast. It seems like she has always been a part of the family.

Trad says that if I had had a girl first that we probably wouldn't have had any more children! LoL!!