Mad Dash

Okay, so I've been boasting for weeks how "I'm finished Christmas shopping!". Well, to my surprise, my husband didn't buy his dad's Christmas like I thought...so this morning (Christmas Eve), I make a mad dash to Wal-Mart. I now am finished with Christmas. And it never fails...$135.37 later I leave Wal-Mart. I go in for a Christmas present and some supplies to make Oreo balls (the bomb of a dessert) and I buy groceries. Who in their right mind goes out grocery shopping on Christmas Eve? Apparently me. Well, I hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas. I'll have pictures to post soon.

Merry Christmas!

Finally took the Christmas card picture!!!! I think that I'm going with the picture in color. Who knows, I may do something totally off the wall.

Braden 3 1/2

Here are a few pics of Braden, we were playing around in the front yard. Let me know what you think.

Lexie

I cannot believe that in a few short weeks my baby girl will be 7 years old. I guess that really means that she isn't a baby anymore. Time sure flies when your havin fun.

1st Grade Zoo Field Trip

Hueytown vs. Hoover

We played Hoover for the first round of playoffs. Unfortunately we lost, but I got a couple of cute pics with the cheerleaders. The first has Lexie in the arms of the squad. The second is Braden with Jessica.

Sorry!!!

Hey guys and gals! I'm so sorry that I haven't posted lately. My house has been ravaged by the dreaded virus. Lexie started on Monday and was still sick Wednesday morning. I started Wednesday morning. By 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, Brandon had Lexie in the E.R. getting fluids. I.V. and 2 1/2 bags and several hours later, she was slightly better. Still on the track to get normal. Then at midnight, Braden started throwing up. So, at 12:30, Brandon and I are scrubbing carpet and hopefully saving my comforter. Everyone seems to be better now, so hopefully I will get to blogging soon. Just say a little prayer that we can all get some much needed rest this Thanksgiving Break!

I've been tagged

Okay so apparently I've been tagged by my friend Mary @ Running the Halls.
The Rules:

1.) Link back to the person who tagged you & share the rules on your blog.
2.) Share 7 random facts about yourself.
3.) Tag 7 people & list their links on your post.
4.) Tell those 7 people by commenting on their blogs

Okay, so here are my 7 random facts...
1.) I've realized that I am a complete reality tv show junkie. I just can't get enough of that stuff.
2.) I have been with my husband for over half of my life, sounds scary. We started dating in high school and have been together since.
3.) I love football, but I can't stand to watch it. It makes me so nervous, especially if I'm watching the team that Brandon's coaching.
4.) I absolutely can't stand anything that is creepy-crawly. I'm a total girl. Bugs, spiders, mice, lizards or snakes. Just gives me a full body shiver.
5.) I hate early mornings. I am a night-owl, always have been always will be.
6.) Most of the time I'm a very sacrastic person...even my young child has caught on to that.
7.) I have this passion for birthday parties. I love for them to be over the top, it stresses me out, but I love every minute.


I'm tagging Julie, Jana, Traci, Heather, Jennifer, Natalie & Nichole.

Halloween 08

We went to get treats and saw some friends; Ella, Presley, and AnnaLee. Brandon had a ballgame, so mom and dad came to help. I'm the obnoxious Bama Fan.

This is my mom, the "Blooming Idiot", hopefully you get the costume and realize that I'm not calling my mom names. Dad looks real happy in the background. His costume this year was a "Grumpy ole Bas$#@d". He didn't think that was a far stretch.

My Superheros

Mr. Incredible and Cyclone Girl

Halloween at school

Lexie had a little fun at school for Halloween. A "special snack" and a few games were played. It was really cute to watch the kids play "Musical Tombstones" and do the "Mummy Wrap". Lexie was the mummy and Maddi was wrapping her. She wore her halloween gear complete with her witch's hat. We were allowed to wear hats on Friday for a fundraiser.

Totally excited!!!

Well, I must admit that I'm totally excited about Halloween. Lexie has created her own "super-hero". She is using her costume from dance and it is so totally cute on her. And Braden is being Mr. Incredible. I'm thinking that I'm going to be "SuperMOM"!!! Really not much of a clothing change. Well, will post pics later. The kids are going to have to opportunities to wear those costumes. So Fun!!!!!

Just Talkin

The other night Braden was just talking and I had to capture it.

Amazing Grace!

At CRBC Lexie is in the Children's Creative Arts group. During camp this year the kiddos learned a drama to Amazing Grace (but a more contemporary version). We did this last Sunday night. I filmed the practice, because I had to help the kids during the actual performance. They did so good.

Pickin our Pumpkin!

We went to the pumpkin patch held by the local softball park on Saturday. The kids had a great time. They had the games like the old fall festivals used to have. They played go fish, pick the duck, ring the fishbowl and Braden shot a toy bow and arrow. They also played in a 2 moonwalks and slid down the giant slide.

My little football player

Right before football season started, someone gave Braden a football jersey to wear to the games. We tried to get his daddy's number from high school (#73), but they didn't have it. So we settled for 72 instead. He loves his jersey and wears it to every game. I just wish that he would let me get a good picture of him and Lexie together. Usually, he hides his face so that I can't. I think they are in a conspiracy against me.

Cheer Clinic

This past week Lexie went to the Cheer Clinic hosted by HHS. She cheered, tumbled and dance with the cheerleaders all week and then performed on Friday pre-game.

So close

Lexie is so close to having a back-handspring. We started cheernastics last September. Look how far she's come. Doing great!!!

Lexie's Baptism

As most of you read, Lexie got baptized Sunday. She was so excited and nervous. When we got upstairs, she kept shaking telling me that she was cold. I knew that it was nerves. She went in and Bro. Jimmy gave a good speech about Lexie. Then she went under...all she could talk about was how warm the water was. I'm so proud of her!!!

Go Bama!!

We went to the Alabama Game on Saturday. We had a blast, but I wish I would have remembered to take my camera into the stadium. So the above pic is before the game. All I can say is that we won, not pretty, but a win.

Went a little shorter

Got the hair cut again, but love it. We decided to go a little shorter and let me say, I now have 15 more minutes of sleep in the morning. Okay, now I'm caught up on my bloggin.

What a weekend...

What a wonderful weekend I have planned. Bunco tonight with my "Bunco Babes", Bama football tomorrow and Lexie's getting baptised on Sunday. Brandon and I are going to the game tomorrow...Alabama vs. Kentucky. I'm so excited for Lexie, her baptism is all that she has talked about since June. I think it's time. She talked with Jimmy last night and I was really shocked at how much she knew and the fact that she wasn't scared to ask questions. Will post pics later!

Alabama State Fair

Brandon and I decided to take the kids to the State Fair yesterday to see if it was going to be good or not. We had a great time. We started off by just walking around and taking it all in. Just to be honest with you, not much had changed since I was little. Yes, it was a different place, but the same rides and the same smells. We started off by letting the kids ride in the back of Predator...for those of you not Monster Jam savvy, it is a monster truck that competes in the competitions. They have it set up with 8 seats in the back so that people can ride. Braden loves monster trucks...he was pumped. The whole time he told Brandon, "Oh my gosh it goes so fast!". Then we got some tickets and let the kids ride a few rides. We then let Lexie do the Bungie Bounce which she thought was awesome. She was trying to bounce high enough to do a back-tuck, but didn't weigh enough to bounce that hard. Then we left and watched the motorcycle stunt show from the parking lot. After an tiring afternoon at the fair we had supper at Chick-Fil-A and headed home. Then we watched a very exciting BAMA game. Bama defeated Georgia...ROLL TIDE!!!

HHS Homecoming Parade

Yesterday was Homecoming for HHS. They always have a parade that the elementary school gets to go watch. It includes the Homecoming Court, Cheerleaders and Football Players, the Band and the Seniors. The students love being able to go out and watch. This year we had several people to watch for...KatiePo was in Homecoming Court and a Senior, Jessica and Lauren cheering, the football team of course and a ton of Seniors. I let Lexie wear her cheerleading uniform to school that day. She thought that she was the stuff!

Yes, that is a black eye you see...

Wednesday night I was getting the kids ready for bed, which means Lexie is in the shower or getting out and Braden is getting put in my bathtub. Well, the kids were having on of those evenings where they were being told a million times to do something before they would. So, Lexie gets out of the shower and instead of getting her p.j.'s on, she decides to lean over the tub to talk to Braden. I had other plans for her at that moment. I swoop in for the kill (the spanking). As I bend down to pop her, she raises up at the same moment and CRASH! I'm seeing stars and tears are flowing freely. Lexie is crying and grabbing her head. She hit me right on the bone under my eye socket. Needless to say, I have black eye. Yes, I said black eye. It's amazing how much damage a small child can do.

Eatin some homegrown watermelon

We finally were able to enjoy the "fruits" of Lexie's labor. The watermelon had a wonderful flavor, however we let it get a little too ripe. Hopefully the 3 that are left will be just right.

Another funny....

I'm in the study, on Sunday, on the computer working and Brandon is in the livingroom watching the race the few minutes before he had to go to football. Well, Lexie and Braden are in the kitchen drawing and drinking some Coke (and I really mean Coke, I'm not being southern). Lexie comes to show me her detailed drawing of her outfit that she wore to church that morning. I was shocked it was very good. We might have a fashion designer in our future. Watch out Project Runway...here we come. Anyway, back to my story, we (Lexie and I) are looking at her picture and we here, "It's tuck, it's tuck! I tan't get it out!" Which translated from toddlerese is It is stuck and I can't get it out. We go running into the kitchen and Braden is standing at the fridge trying to get the Coke bottle out of the water dispenser. He somehow has wedged it to fit and now the water is running out of the bottle and flowing over the fridge like Niagra Falls. No joke. The water is pooling in the floor. Okay that should add to the resale of the house, newly added pond or swimming area in the kitchen. At this point, Braden is totally freaked out. He is crying uncontrollably. I get the bottle unstuck and throw it in the sink, literally throw it across the kitchen. I get a beach towel and to clean it up, which ended up being soaked. Brandon had to send Braden to his room to get him to calm down. What an afternoon. Leave it to Beaver!!!

Officially the thoughts of a man

Well, most of you are probably wondering what on Earth I could mean by the title. Just let me tell you. This past weekend has been filled with little sleep for me the mom! Saturday morning, Brandon accidentally set off the alarm to the house and you can guess what happened. The whole house (along with the whole neighborhood) was rudely awakened. Since the kids and myself were awake, I decided to go ahead and start cleaning. I threw some laundry in the washer and dryer and let Lexie walk to a next-door to look at baby clothes, for her babies, at a yard sale. When we go back I start changing the laundry over. Braden walks into the laundryroom holding his "tullie" (our word for his unmentionable parts). He then proceeds to tell me: "I'm holdin my tuwwie." So, me being intrigued asked, "Why?" I'm an then blind-sided with one of the funniest comments I've ever heard. (The weak at heart maybe shouldn't read this) " 'Cause it's a beast." I respond with, "What did you say?" Braden replies with I said, "It's a b-ee-st (sounding it out), mom." I lost it. How do you respond to a comment like this? It's a beast? Are you kidding me? Really, he is like the typical man. It apparently is big enough to be a beast. So, now he has called it a beast several times this weekend. I guess I won't have to worry about his confidence when he is older.

Brennen's 3rd Birthday

Sunday afternoon we made our way to Brennen's birthday party that was at Tannehill State Park. He was having a Thomas party and wanted everyone to be able to ride the train. We got there a little late because I just had to run into Target. When we rode the train, Braden wouldn't sit by me either time. He had to sit by Brennen. Lexie sat with Annaleise in the front of the train. On the way over to the blacksmith area, we saw 4 deer (there is a pic in the collage). We stayed over for a while waiting on the deer to come feed and that never happened. Braden wanted to know why we were being quiet and what were we waiting for. I told him the deer and he said that we had already seen them. We then got back on the train to head to the campground and saw 5 more deer. Braden and Lexie were fired up. The kids enjoyed the train and the cake.

AnnaLee's Birthday

Saturday we went to AnnaLee's birthday party. AnnaLee is Kristen's grand-daughter, who Braden stays with everyday. She turned 2 and had a Dora party. The kids played outside and blew bubbles. They had a great time even though it was extremely hot. Happy 2nd Birthday AnnaLee!

Sharing something funny

Ok, so I have a funny story to share. Saturday night, the fam went out to eat in Bessemer. We then had to go to Wal-Mart so that I could exchange my cellphone and pick-up a few items. Well, we got our few things and then waited in line. As we were waiting the kids were looking at those impulse buys right beside the cashier and I was about to blow-up because they wouldn't leave anything alone. All of the sudden, I look up and Braden has on a Halloween mask and he's just dancing away. On closer look, it was a mask of Obama (hence the picture of the mask). After he took off the mask, he said "Moma dat was a cary (scary) man mask." I replied to him that he didn't know how scary he was. I thought that was funny and that I would share. I would have given anything if I would have snapped a picture.

I'm sick...

I finally broke down and went to the doctor this morning. Yes, the doctor on a Saturday, how much fun can one person have. I couldn't take it anymore. I've been fighting "the crud" for 2 weeks now and just can't shake it. Yesterday before the ballgame, my right ear really started to hurt. I even told mom that I thought I might have an ear infection, in a joking matter. By the time I got home from the game, my ear and throat were hurting so bad I couldn't stand it. So, I went to a clinic this morning. And my self-diagnosis was right, I have an ear infection and a sinus infection to boot. I felt like asking to dr.: Are you kidding me? I'm 30 and not supposed to have ear infections, those are for my children that I take care of. So, needless to say I left the clinic with a shot in my rump, a bag full of sinus medicine and a prescription for an antibiotic. Wow, could my Saturday be more exciting!!!

When your family teams up on you.....

Brandon and I start this war. We were throwing some of Braden's toys at each other and Braden starts building a fort around Brandon to "tect" him. Thanks son, I birth you and you come to your daddy's defense. I think that it ended in a draw, but in the end I won, because Brandon and Braden cleaned the livingroom.

How did this happen?

Okay, so Brandon left yesterday morning for the Alabama vs. Clemson game (and by the way Roll Tide!!) and I knew that I would have the kids by myself. No big deal right...I'm Supermom. Well, I was wrong. Those 2 fought and whined pretty much until I told them my plan. We were going to the movies, and since I had just bought some coupons, our ticket was one of the passes to get in free. Anyway, I was getting ready for our

2:30 movie and the kids were coloring in the kitchen. And I heard a body hit the floor and a horrible cry. I thought they've done it know one of them has critically injured the other. Much to my surprise, when I run into the kitchen Braden is sitting in the floor, under the table crying. Lexie proceeds to tell me that he fell out of the chair and hit his chin on the table. So, I scoop him and and give him some mommy luvin and he was fine. But, please tell me how you can just fall out of a chair and manage to hit your chin? And unassisted? I still am not convinced that Lexie didn't have anything to do with this. She getting very sneaky about fighting with Braden.

Boosterthon Fun Run

Thursday at HES, we had a fundraiser called the Boosterthon Fun Run. The kids had a blast. As you can see, the kids actually did run...but there were a few laps that were fun laps, like the under the sea lap and the driving your race car lap. The money that we raise is going to help finish the renovated library.

Yep...it's that time!

It's that time of year again. It time to year whistles blowing, see flags throwing and enjoy some good ole football. With Bama (ROLL TIDE!!!) and HHS (Go Gophers!), we live and breathe football. We had our community pep-rally and it was very good. We did miss the jamboree game, because Braden had Strep...not fun. It did have a good outcome...The Golden Gophers beat Thompson 35-0 Varsity. The total game was Gophers 88-20. Way to go Hueytown.

We lost our first tooth.

The second day of school, Lexie went to Nurse Paige at the school to see if she could pull her tooth. Well, we had a successful moment and Lexie was thrilled that she finally lost a tooth. The tooth fairy came and gave her $5 and then her Gindin gave her another $5. That's one expensive tooth.

The First Day of First Grade

Wow, I have a 1st grader now. I can't believe.

Dustin Came to Visit

Last weekend Dustin came to visit. While they were here at the house he was playing with the kids outside. Lexie and Braden were riding the go-cart when Braden decided to get his Power Wheels truck. Then Dustin (who is 6'4") decided to ride on the go-cart that is for small kids, and then proceeds to chase Braden. It was quite funny.