Favorite Foto Friday

This picture of us in front of the Big Cypress was taken at Eric's deer camp south of Sheridan in the fall of 2004. This tree is gigantic and it's protected by the National Registry (or something like that). Eric couldn't remember the details, but I'm sure his dad knows all about it. This day was so neat. We rode down to the camp with Eric's dad and Scarlet. I was amazed by the roots of the tree that came back up out of the ground. They are called cypress knees. The woods were so cool looking on that day-I kept thinking it looked like something out of Lord of the Rings.

The weather was perfect and we rode around the deer camp on a four-wheeler and it was my first time to see everything. Eric had been hunting there since he was about 8 years old. It's crazy to think that Luke could start hunting the fall of 2009! I don't think so!

I've been tagged!

My friend, Leigh Ann, tagged me! It was hard to think of seven things that people may not know about me. My close friends may know all of this, but maybe my new blog friends will learn something about me. Here is what I am supposed to do: List 7 random things that people may not know about you. The rules are to link the person who sent this to you and leave a comment on their blog so their readers can visit yours. Post the rules on your blog. Share 7 facts about yourself. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, linking their blog. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I'm obsessed with Disney right now. We are going there in May. I went when I was 3, but barely remember anything. I understand it takes major planning. I've read (and I'm still reading...) tons of books about the resorts, the parks, the rides, shows, restaurants, etc. I know we aren't going to be able to see it all, but I want to have a plan in place. But I'm not so OCD that we aren't going to be flexible and just hang out if we find something fun to do. I am just so excited and love to read!!!

2. I have terrible eyesight. I've worn contact since 1984 and had glasses before then. My family likes to joke with me that I'm like Mr. Magoo without my glasses.

3. I was the first person on either side of my family to graduate from college. I'm pretty proud of that. I've had a few cousins that have graduated from college since me.

4. Red is my favorite color. I've always loved it. From suckers to houseshoes to luggage...if given a choice, I will usually choose red. I just gravitate towards it.

5. I'm very messy person. I'll just admit it, since everyone that knows me well already knows this. I love to be organized and somethings in my house (and life) are, but as a general rule I'm a clutterbug. My purse is usually a mess with Luke's stuff, receipts, gum wrappers and who know what else!?! The trunk of my car is usually full of junk I'm carrying somewhere else (Goodwill, my mom's, garage sale stuff, LaDonna's had a gift in there for about 6 months!!!).

6. When I'm nervous I wring my hands. It actually calms me.

7. I have sensed the Lord drawing me my whole life. I didn't grow up in church and have a pretty dysfunctional family. I heard the Gospel presented clearly for the first time when I was 15 years old. I immediately surrendered my life to Him then and have walked with Him for the past 22 years. I've sure made a lot of mistakes, but He has never left me. He gives me grace, peace, blessings, wisdom (and everything that I don't deserve) but am so thankful for!

I tag: Megan B. Christi, Leslie, Sunshine, Beth, Shannon, Stacy

Luke lost his first tooth!

Luke will be 7 in July and most of his friends have already lost their first teeth. It wasn't bothering him, but he was very excited when a few weeks ago when we felt the first wiggles. I loved checking on them daily (the two bottom ones). I don't mind wiggling teeth when they are first loose, but I'm not all about pulling them. Fortunately for me, Eric's parents were staying with us last week because they were having some work done to their hardwood floors. Eric's mom, Randie, has been the "official tooth puller-outer" in their family for over 30 years! So she was told to be on standby for pulling this tooth.

Last Wednesday night at church he was eating Fun Dip and when he bit down on the stick, it really made the bottom left one loose. So when he came home, she just grabbed a washcloth and started at it. He's usually a pretty cautious kid, but he was a real trooper. She just wiggled, tugged and pulled until it came right out. He wasn't even freaked out by the blood. He was very proud and immediately had to call Auntie, MaLee & Pop!

The tooth fairy made a stop with $5! Man! We must have gotten a rich little tooth fairy. What's up with the 50 cents I used to get?!? Ha! He was very proud and when he smiles now, he drops down his bottom lip so you are sure to see the little gaps. I said gaps because the very next night, Thursday February 14th, he lost another one! Such an exciting week!

Leigh Ann-This is for you!

When I saw a friend's "big hair" picture the other night, I immediately thought of this picture of myself. I also have huge permed hair (though not as big as Leigh Ann's-ha!), Brooke Shields eyebrows and the best "come hither" look I could come up with at 19 years old. YIKES! I was so struggling! You can't tell in this picture, but my acid wash jeans had some holes in them. I was bringing a little bit of 80s into 1990! How much eye shadow was I wearing?!? Good times!

What was your most embarrassing fashion trend from the 80s? Which one do you miss the most?

Favorite Foto Friday

This was one of the only candid pictures of me on my wedding day-Saturday, December 11, 1993. I was only 22 years old. It's hard to believe that this year will be our 15th wedding anniversary. It's funny how styles have changed-I hate to think of my wedding attire as outdated...ha! This dress had a cathedral length train and was pretty heavy. My sister took this picture. She had seen a photo of Princess Di taken like this and she wanted me to pose. I was more than willing to plop down and take a load off. Weddings are tiring-but SO worth it. I would do it all over again...and take Eric with me. :)

Finally Getting Better

Here's Luke with his inhaler. He's gotten to be quite the pro with it. He's been doing this every 4 hours for the past 8 days. We've been to the doctor 4 times in the past two weeks, he's missed 7 days of school and is fever free today after 10 days. We are so ready for him to be well. We appreciate everyone's prayers. Even though he is still pasty white and coughing some he's going to school tomorrow!

OH MY GOSH!!!

The Inviting Company is a factory/warehouse here in town that has a clearance sale on scrapbooking paper, diaper bags, plates, napkins, notecards, post-it notes, cardstock, custom stationery, etc. a couple of times a year. I went last March and had a ball shopping for all of that stuff. I wanted to go this morning, but I knew that would not be Luke's favorite thing to do on a Saturday morning. So what did I do? BRIBE!!!! I told him he had to do 3 things this morning and he would earn $10 to go to Target and get whatever he wanted. The three things were: 1) Feed the guinea pigs 2) Don't gripe when it's time to go and 3) Be good shopping (this means he has to stay by me and not ask me "When we are going to leave?" 100 times). He was all about making a deal. He was so good!!!

My friend, LaDonna, went with me and Luke this morning about 10:30. When we walked in there were at least 100 people shopping and the lines to pay were about 20 people long. It was so overwhelming!!! I saw my bunko friend Leslie and Megan's mom both getting some great deals. We didn't have a shopping cart at first, but I realized we weren't going to be able to buy much without one, so I followed a lady with a cart out to her car and helped her unload her boxes to have use of the cart. Then we started!!! :) I love the custom stationery and party goods. They were half off today and each package of plates or napkins was 13 cents apiece! You could buy a box of 10 packages of plates for $1.25!!! It was crazy. I bought some things for a baby shower I'm hosting next month and stuff for 3 more parties! I'm going to have to start inviting people over now! Ha!

They have cute polka dot vinyl diaper bags for $5 and I bought one for a girl at work. I bought all the things you see on my dining room table for $35! LaDonna got out of there only paying $21. She didn't even have intentions on buying much, but then couldn't help it. She says I'm a bad influence-but at least we bargain shop!!!

After our quick trip to Target for (more) Ben 10 toys for Luke, we called it a day! It was so fun! I had a shopping buzz for a few hours-sick!!!! I know it!