Looking at the Sky on Friday
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Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Busy Bees!
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| Tisha and Brien Happily Ever After! |
The weather is miserable and hot already. I'm NOT looking forward to summer as I am NOT a fan of the heat. I'm a pansy and I'm not afraid to admit it. I love the air conditioning and I hate being outside in the heat. This shot of my husband and I was taken at an outdoor wedding we attended last weekend. It was beautiful and the scenery was breath taking. Thanks to our good friend, Amy for this shot. Thanks to my wonderful husband for sticking by my side after all these years. I love you, baby and I am so happy that you are my life partner! Congrats to Jason and Vickie on your new promise to one another. From our family to yours, we wish you all the best.
Have a great long weekend everyone and BE SAFE!!!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Superwoman's Freedom Plea
Oh Lord, who said there's just One Life to Live?
I'm sure I'm livin'a thousand!
The few times I do awake to pray,
All My Children start arousin'!
Uh, oh! No time for quiet now
Think quick! The day's beginnin'!
I'll try to recall all Oprah's advice...
Then my head starts spinnin'
Make those yunguns religious, cautious but not suspicious
And watch their self-esteem!
Yet you be professional, look sensational
And keep that house squeaky clean!
And perish the thought you forget the needs
Of that marvelous man you married
Why throw yourself before him when he raises his eyebrows
And quit thinkin' "I'd rather be buried."
Oops, now I'm late for work, the kids hate their clothes
And the baby's got a cough
As the World Turns so quickly, I'm severely tempted
To take the next jump off.
Surely they're kiddin' , is there anyone left
Who's honestly Young and Restless?
As for me, I feel centuries old, completely worn out
And cellulite infested!
It's gonna take more than Ryan's Hope for this woman to survive.
I cannot abide another deep breath of Days of our Lives!
Superwoman? She's a curse. To fake her is impossible!
And if I try for one more day, I'm gonna end up in General Hospital!
I've gotta be here, I've gotta be there
I frankly cannot face it.
Rescue me from havoc, please show me what is basic!
Slow me down, Lord, save this life and keep my eyes on you.
Satan can have this Rat Race world--
Thank God I'm just passin' through!!
-Beth Moore
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Mommy, Some Day I Want to Be Baptism-ed
Tyler said to me this afternoon, "Mommy, I liked your dunking thing".
With a smile I reply, "My baptism?".
He says, "Yes, Mommy and some day I want to be baptism-ed".
This would make me very proud, son!
Today, May 23, 2010 in front of some of the most influential and important people in my life, I was baptized! My husband, thhe man who has stood by me through thick and thin was there. My life partner, the person who knows me and still loves me. The man who fathered the my three children, and most importantly the man who also loves Christ as HIS father! My children were there, to witness my decision to love my life for the Lord. This meant so much to me, to show my children the importance of this decision. My mother and father-in-law were there to show their support. Two of the most wonderful people that God could have ever placed in my life. They have been there for me in the absence of my parents. My mother-in-law is such a beautiful soul and I love her as my own mother. She's a Godly woman and I am so glad that I have had her to look up to over the years. My little sister was also there. My sister has been my best friend for as long as I can remember. She has always stood beside me no matter what. She has been such an inspiration to me in her faith. For that I thank her. I thank her for shining her light for me to see. I was proud to have my brother-in-law there as well, a proud Christian man. To my family, I say thank you for your support and to my new family in Christ, if any of you make your way here let me say thank you so much for your support and love.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Looking at the Sky on Friday
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Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Emily Gives Me A New Pedi
Friday night as Emily slept, I polished her toe nails. I used to paint Shelby's toes all of the time when she was a baby/toddler but there seems to be little to no time to do so with Emily. So, I took the opportunity while Tyler was gone to Grandma's house to paint Emily's toes.
I was relaxing on Saturday morning by drinking some coffee, watching Avatar, and catching up on Facebook. Multitasking as usual of course. Emily decided that she wanted to do a bit of artwork on my toes! I knew that she was playing with my toes, I felt her doing so, but the last time I had looked at her she had a medicine dropper in her hands so I assumed she was pretending to paint my freshly pedicured toes. In reality, my assumption was very wrong! When I looked down, THIS is what I saw:
Monday, May 17, 2010
A New Begining
Sunday was a big day for me. I sang a special in church. Many of my Facebook friends probably remember my dilemma on choosing the right song. I ended up going with "Jesus Take The Wheel" by Carrie Underwood. I felt like this song was fitting for more reason than one on this day! My husband and I have been attending his childhood church for a few months now. Brien was baptized as a child at this church. I went to church near my childhood home, but was never baptized. It's been weighing heavily on my heart for a while now that I wanted to do so and become a member of this church. I love the people at the church and the preacher is amazing. It just feels like home. I think that God has lead us here and it is where we belong. After praying about it and discussing it with one another as well as the preacher, on Sunday morning May 16, 2010 my husband rededicated himself to the church and I made the decision to become a member of the church by baptism which will occur next Sunday morning! I am very excited about the wonderful things that the Lord has been doing in our lives and I look forward to serving him through the church. Please keep my family in your prayers that we will continue to do God's will.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Making Memories and Good Times
After Tyler's Pre-School Graduation on Thursday, Brien checked him out of school early and they had some father/son time together! Brien is plumbing a new home in beautiful Mountain View, Arkansas (our favorite fishing place!!) so he took the opportunity to bring Tyler with him to do a little work and a lotta fishing! They grabbed their poles and set out to the White River. Since he didn't have the boat with him, they just walked up to the Sylamore Creek and fished there. Of course fishing for trout is much more fun but to a four year old boy, fishing is fishing and he had a BLAST!! Those are times that he will never forget: a pole, a hole, and his dad! What a day. Here are a few pictures that Brien took with his cell phone to remember their fun day.
While the boys were fishing, I took the opportunity to spend some one on one "girl" time with my 7 year old daughter, Shelby. Since I used my mani/pedi gift certificate earlier in the week, she was wanting to get her nails done, so I picked her up from school and took her to have her nails done. Emily went home with "Memaw" (my mother-in-law). After getting her nails done, Shelby and I went over to FroYo, a hip new yogurt shop in town where you create your own dessert! You choose your frozen yogurt, then add toppings to your liking from nuts and syrups to candy, cereal, cookies, etc. You pay by the ounce. It's not too pricey, and delicious! I had birthday cake (low-fat) yogurt with sprinkles, strawberries, and waffle cone toppings! Mmmm...Needless to say, we had a wonderful girls afternoon!
It's a rare occasion when we get to spend time with the children one on one, but it's always appreciated not only by the children, but by us as parents as well!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Pre-School Graduation for Tyler
On Thursday, my little man graduated from Pre-School. He asked me afterward if he gets to go to Kindergarten tomorrow! He is super excited about starting Kindergarten and going to school with Shelby. Of course I cried during graduation. They had a beautiful slide show presentation with some moving songs playing in the background, Trace Adkin's "You're Gonna Miss This" and LeeAnn Womack's "I Hope You Dance" to name a couple.
Tyler had a great day and I hope that he knows how proud we are of him for all of his accomplishments. It seems like only yesterday I was dropping him off for his first day and so nervous for my baby boy! Time flies by...I know it sounds so cliche but it really does. Before we know it he'll be dating, driving, and graduating High School!!! I love you little buddy, all the way to the top of the moon and back! Mwah! ♥
Friday, May 14, 2010
Apparently She's Allergic
Emily's body is covered in a rash. She was crying last night and scratching around her diaper area, so apparently not only does it look bad but it feels bad as well. Our regular pediatrician was out of the office, so we saw another who was in the office. His first question when he saw the rash was, What antibiotic did she just finish? Before I could answer he replied to himself, "Let me guess, penicillin. I laughed and said yes. He said that her rash was a classic allergic reaction to the antibiotic. The fact that her father and I are both allergic to the same drug is further indication that it is for sure the culprit. The good news is that she is NOT contagious. The bad news is that she will get worse before she gets better and there aren't any topical ointments that can help. The doctor said that Benadryl might help the redness and itchiness. Hopefully I have a bottle that was not recalled! Thursday, May 13, 2010
Looking at the Sky on Friday
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Blessed Mother's Day
I cashed in part of my mother's day yesterday! I got a pedicure and some acrylic nails. I love to get pedicures. I like to wear sandals and flip flops in the summer, and I think feet are just gross so I like to keep mine looking at least presentable. But, I don't usually have "fake nails". It's hard to diaper kids, cook dinner, pick your nose, etc with them. (Just kidding about that last part, m'kay!) But since it was a gift, I had to go get them. I like feeling all pretty and girly again. Although it's very hard to type and text with them. I had to cut them down when I got home 'cause I realized real quickly that they were way too long. So, I cut them down to "mom-size" instead of mistress size like they were. I got the pink nails with white tips and I think they look really pretty. I also got cute little flowers painted on my big toes. I also got some tanning visits as a gift and I've been cashing those in as well. I had a blessed weekend spending Saturday with my mom and sisters and Sunday with my mother-in-law (who I consider a second mom). I am so blessed to have two wonderful, loving mothers to care for me. I know that I an always count on them to be there when I need them and that means more than anything! I hope that some day my three babies can say the same thing!
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| Mother's Day 2010 with my babies! |
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Mommies Don't Have Mommies!!
I explained to him that my mommy was Nanny. He laughed and said, "She can't be your mommy, she's my nanny!!"
I tried to explain exactly how it was possible. My mom had me, then I had him so that made her my mom and his nanny. He just laughed and said, "No! She's just my nanny not your mommy."
I laughed and the exchange began between us "No she's mine - No mine!"
Tyler then proclaimed that he knew who my mom was and it was not Nanny 'cause she was his. My mom is...Aunt Lulu (My sister, Mandy!). Although I couldn't wait to tell her this, I could not explain to a four year old the fact that I was born before her so there was no way possible that she was my mommy.
It reminded me of all the times we were younger and people would ask who was the oldest and we would make them choose. They would always think she was older and I hated it! Now (three kids later) I only wish people still thought I was the youngest!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Miley Can't Be Tamed and Should Be Ashamed!!
My 7 year old daughter has been a Disney fan all of her life. It comes to her honest. Before she was even a twinkle in my eye, I collected Disney VHS tapes. There was something about the magic of Disney that always enchanted me. Shelby has grown with Disney, from Mickey Mouse and Winnie The Pooh to The Suite Life, Sonny With A Chance, and Hannah Montana. What I've always enjoyed about Disney is that I could turn it on and not have to worry about monitoring what my children were being exposed to. The messages were positive and I've been known to enjoy watching the shows myself. When we learned that Hannah Montana was going to be a thing of the past, it was disappointing, but truthfully not a surprise to me. Miley can only be a "girl" for so long.
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As for me and my house...we will NOT support the new Miley. Next time she comes to town, there will for sure be two empty seats that could have otherwise been filled by my daughter and I. But, then again who wants to watch a 17 year old girl pole dance anyhow?!
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Happy Mother's Day
Happy Mother's Day! I will be celebrating the weekend with my beautiful mother and mother-in-law who both mean the world to me. I know how lucky I am to have two such loving and caring women in my life. Thank you Jesus for them both.
To My Mom:
You can see it in their eyes,
in tender hugs and long good-byes,
a love that only moms and daughters know.You can see it in their smiles,
through passing years and changing styles,
a friendship that continually seems to grow.
You can see it in their lives,
the joy each one of them derives,
in just knowing that the other one is there...
To care and to understand,
lend an ear or hold a hand,
and to celebrate the memories they share.
To My Mother-In-Law (my 2nd Mom):
You are the mother I received
the day I wed your son.
And I just want to thank you, Mom,
for all the things you've done.
You have given me a gracious man
with whom I share my life.
You are his lovely mother
and I his lucky wife.
You used to pat his little head
and now I hold his hand.
You raised in love a little boy
then gave to me a man.
In memory of my dear Grandmothers whom I miss dearly:
If Roses grow in Heaven,
Lord please pick a bunch for me.
Place them in my Grandmother's arms
and tell her they're from me.
Tell her I love her and miss her,
and when she turns to smile,
place a kiss upon her cheek and hold her for a while.
Because remembering her is easy, I do it every day,
but there's an ache within my heart that will never go away.
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Tyler's Happy Mother's Day
My 4 year old son, Tyler is in pre-school. Every year they do a mad-lib style mother's day sheet with the kids. It's always so fun to see what answers the kids come up with! When Shelby was in pre-school (in 2007) she had THIS to say about me. Tyler's answers not only made me laugh, but the teachers got a kick out of this one as well.
Happy Mother's Day:
My Mom is 40 years old. (For the record, I'm only 32.)
She has black hair and green, blue, and white eyes. (ummm...brown hair, and my eyes are hazel, so I guess he's partially right.)
My Mom loves to relax by sitting in the chair to drink . (sweet tea of course.)
Her favorite chore is cleaning the house . (I think this is a trick question. Is there a such thing as a "favorite chore"!?)
She loves to cook chicken legs and rice . (We do eat a lot of chicken 'round here.)
Her favorite TV show is American Idol . (I like AI, but it's not my favorite...not this year anyhow!)
When my Mom shops she loves to buy Rice . (Yes, I do like rice!)
If she could go on a trip she would to go Harps or Sonic , and she would take a drink and purse with her. (See a theme here?! Drinks and rice!)
Mommy always tells me to go to my bedroom . (The kid's not lying!)
I love it when she lets me play outside . (He just cracks me up. Not I love it when my mommy hugs me, or when she kisses me, when she lets me play outside! Gotta love his honesty!)
Happy Mother's Day, Moms!!!
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Looking at the Sky on Friday
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I am published!
If you live in Searcy and you haven't picked up the latest edition of Searcy Living, go now and get one! My article about the 65 Roses Tour has been published in the May edition. If you missed the article, and you don't live in Searcy, you can CLICK HERE to read it.
It was such a joy and a pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful fund raising event and I can't wait until next year! Thanks to my friends at Searcy Living for being so supportive and publishing my article.
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Don't Swallow Your Gum!
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| Sweet Kisses! |
Tyler: Emily's got diarrhea, huh?
Me: Yup, her tummy must not be feeling good.
Tyler: It's 'cause she swallowed gum!
Me: Oh, really? That gives you diarrhea?
Tyler: Yeah, it happened to me one time when I swallowed gum!
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Gerber Graduates Preschooler Snacks - A Review
My kids and I recently teamed up with the folks at Gerber to sample a few products from their Gerber Graduates line. On the menu were Gerber Graduates Preschooler Snacks.
"Fruit Twists are real fruit snacks that are perfect for on the go snacking – best of all they are made with 99% real concentrated fruit and juice and provide ½ of a preschooler serving of fruit per twist as well as 25% of the daily preschooler amount of antioxidant vitamin C. The great thing about these Fruit Twists, is that your child can pull them apart and eat one flavor at a time, or eat them both at once, combining the two flavors. Either way, your child can choose what they like best!"
What we thought:
My children LOVE fruit snacks. This was a pure treat for them. They all loved the fruit twists. They come in two flavors: Strawberry and Grape as well as Apple and Strawberry. The Strawberry and Grape seemed to be the crowd pleaser at my house. Of course I don't believe that this should take the place of fruit in your home, but if you're on the go as much as we are, they will easily fit in the diaper bag and you'll have a great, healthy snack for any trip you're taking. A five pack will cost around $2.99 so they are a bit pricier than the store brand snacks, but reading the ingredients might steer you toward the Gerber brand. This was by far the favorite of my children! 
Gerber Graduates for Preschoolers Cereal Twists"Cereal Twists are made with whole grains and two flavored yogurt fillings. Each cereal bar is individually wrapped for convenient on-the-go snacking and comes in three delicious flavors: Strawberry Blueberry, Banana Peach and Raspberry Vanilla."
What we thought:
Gerber Graduates for Preschoolers Chewy Granola Bars"Chewy Granola bars are made with whole grain rolled oats and wheat flakes for a unique soft texture that preschoolers love – they’re naturally flavored and provide 10% daily value for 4 vitamins and minerals. They have 6g of whole grains per bar and have no preservatives or artificial flavors."
What we thought:
These bars were also a hit with the kids. We tried the apple cinnamon and the strawberry. Shelby especially loved this product. Since she takes her lunch to school daily, I am constantly struggling to find healthy snacks that she can transport easily in her lunch box. We've tried other granola bars and usually she's not a big fan. She really liked these.All in all, the Gerber Graduates for Preschoolers line are a good alternative snack. Lets face it, as parents we'd much rather see our children snacking on a granola bar than a chocolate bar! By keeping such snacks handy, we're teaching our children to make good choices when snacking and setting a standard which they will carry with them from childhood into their adult life. Who knew that choosing snacks for your children could play such an important role in their future?! For more information on Gerber Graduates and other Gerber lines, you can click here.
Children's Medicine - Product Recall
I just thought I would re-post this information for those of you who might not know. There has been a recall on Mcneil Products. If you have children's medications in your medicine cabinet, you might want to read the following information. I am off to check my medicine cabinet. I have at least one (and in some cases more than one) of each of these products in my cabinet.
"McNeil Consumer Healthcare is initiating this voluntary recall because some of these products may not meet required quality standards. This recall is not being undertaken on the basis of adverse medical events. However, as a precautionary measure, parents and caregivers should not administer these products to their children. Some of the products included in the recall may contain a higher concentration of active ingredient than is specified; others may contain inactive ingredients that may not meet internal testing requirements; and others may contain tiny particles. While the potential for serious medical events is remote, the company advises consumers who have purchased these recalled products to discontinue use."
Products include:
INFANTS' TYLENOL® AND CHILDREN'S TYLENOL® PRODUCTS
INFANTS' MOTRIN® AND CHILDREN'S MOTRIN® PRODUCTS
CHILDREN'S ZYRTEC® PRODUCTS
CHILDREN'S BENADRYL® PRODUCTS
Click Here for more details including complete list!
Monday, May 03, 2010
Race For The Cure
FYI: Press Releases
The Ultimate Mom to Be Sweepstakes Honoring Moms to Be and New Moms Has Officially Launched, Win Amazing Prizes at momtobesweepstakes.com!
Hot Moms Club, Playgroups USA and Trista Sutter have joined forces where pregnant and new moms can enter to win over $17,000 in products via the official campaign website at momtobesweepstakes.com from March 30th - May 30th, 2010.The campaign is launched alongside Jessica Denay's and Trista Sutter's hot new release, The Hot Mom to Be Handbook (HarperCollins).
The Ultimate Mom to Be Sweepstakes is one exciting promotion. Jessica Denay, founder of Hot Moms Club and author says, "At Hot Moms Club, we get an opportunity to see today's hottest products for the pregnant and new mom. When we decided to launch this campaign alongside the release of my new book, we knew that we could award some truly amazing prizes."
And she was right. Jodi Van Lom, co-founder of Playgroups USA and partner in the Ultimate Mom to Be Sweepstakes agrees. "The campaign is truly amazing. In Jessica's new book, she gets an opportunity to mention many great products that every mom needs or would love to have. With this promotion, some lucky winners will win some of these products."
The Ultimate Mom to Be Sweepstakes features over $17,000 in prizes that include 18 years of collection and storage of cord and cord blood from Cord Blood Registry™, a nursery set from Bratt Decor™, the hot new FastFold Stroller from Micralite™, a new infant baby carrier from lillebaby™, a beautiful gift box from Trumpette™, shaper leggings from brand new ShaToBu™, a gift basket with must have mommy lotions and creams from Mustela™, a gorgeous crib bedding set and nursery paint from Serena & Lily™, a kids clothing package from My Vintage Baby™, the latest swaddles for baby from Swaddle Designs™, essential mommy vitamins from Bayer™ Women's One a Day and the latest Soft Motion™ shoes from Stride Rite™.
Summer vacation is fast approaching, and moms are already heading to retail stores to stock up on warm weather fashions for their kids.
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| Fashion Playtes design |
To provide some guidance for moms of fashion-obessed youngsters, childrens apparel expert and Co-Founder of FashionPlaytes, a virtual design studio for girl 5-12, Mary Beth Tirrell is offering a quick trend overview for moms and daughters before they hit the racks.
The following is Mary Beth’s breakdown of the top summer fashion trends for tween girls:
- Hawaiian Style: Go tropical chic with vintage surf graphic looks from old Waikiki. Designers and surf brands will be showcasing old school styles from the Aloha state, and this is a fun and sporty look that is accessible for all ages.
- Ombre Color Schemes: This "mono-hue" palette trend will be very popular this summer, and can also extend into building color themes with outfits as girls create their own “ombre stylized” ensembles. For example, try pairing royal blue capri pants with powder blue sleeveless shirt and navy blue cotton cardigan – then continue the fun with jewelry and accessories. The key is sticking to the same color family.
- Sailor: Salute to crisp whites paired with striped tee's and nautical themed graphics and appliqués. Style the ensemble with a ponytail secured with a bright ribbon, and complete the look with cool white sunglasses.
- Feminine Details: Pretty eyelet and lace trim will sweeten up any summer look. Look for these details on everything from fancy party dresses to a lace-trimmed tank top to add some girliness when paired with a favorite pair of denim shorts.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
All in a day's work
Yesterday, I cleaned up vomit. Two times, from two separate children. One was after a whole cup of chocolate milk was consumed. The second was after a dinner consisting of mac and cheese, green beans, and carrots. Oh yes, it was chunky veggie soup by then!
Are you jealous yet? Come on, you know that you wish you lived the luxurious life that I lead, people!
Well, if you aren't yet, how about if I tell you that Emily is trying to potty train and she was running around yesterday bare bottomed. She got up from her potty chair, sat on the fireplace, and proceeded to empty her bladder! Yup, so not only did I clean up vomit (TWICE), I also cleaned up urine, or "pee-pee" as we so affectionately call it around our house.
Of course I cleaned up "poo-poo" as well, because as I mentioned previously, Emily is trying to potty train. She's a work in progress.
Motherhood, it's NOT for the faint of heart or the weak of stomach!
We're All Okay!
Just in case some of you were wondering how we fared in the tornadoes...we're all okay. My mom lives in a little place called Butlerville and there was damage there, right next door to my aunt in fact. Thank God they all came through okay and there was no property damage. Unfortunately there were others who weren't so lucky! Please send your prayers up for the families of those who were affected by those tornadoes. There have been 2 confirmed deaths. One was a drowning in the floods. I heard that a 13 year old was struck by lightning but nothing has been said since the initial reports. Thank you to those of you who helped to keep my mind occupied on Facebook during our time hunkering in the hallway with all three kids! Your thoughts and prayers meant the world to me. Thank you all so much! I hope you have a beautiful Sunday.
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Parenting: It's not for the weak!
Since I have become a parent, I could probably count on one hand (okay, maybe two) how many nights of uninterrupted sleep I have had! Seriously! Uninterrupted sleep is something that is easily taken for granted until you become a parent. Oh, and don't think that just because your children get older and are no longer teething, wetting the bed, or having nightmares that you'll regain the freedom to sleep uninterrupted for any lengthy amount of time because once they start driving then you're going to be wondering if they are okay, where are they, and who are they with, right? It's just never ending.
Being a mother is most definitely one of the greatest and most rewarding jobs on the planet. But, it is also the most tiring. Thank God for Grandmas and Grandpas!!
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