Pieces of Me...

Life is Precious

2010-10-09T10:39:00.001-04:00

I do not want to get to the end of my life and find that I just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.

~Diane Ackerman

Life is so precious. Those of us whom are blessed enough to enjoy another birthday should acknowledge just how precious it truly is. Last night, I sat down and watched Letters to God with my little Mason and the tears started rolling down. It's a true story of a boy named Tyler who has cancer and reaches out to God by writing letters to Him. Just the thought of losing a child leaves me absolutely heartbroken. I think of all the families going through it and I know that all I can do is pray my heart out that it never happens to one of my own. Then this morning I came across another tragic story of a mother who went into labor at 21 weeks with twins. Sadly, the babies did not survive and a few days later they were joined in Heaven by their mother. She had gone into cardiac arrest after delivering. She was a beautiful young lady. It just goes to show that you never know what lies ahead and when your time will come.

Lives taken too soon should be testaments for us to live life to the fullest and to not frown upon turning another year older. Each day we get to open our eyes is a blessing. So, open your eyes and see the beauty that God has put in front of you.

Sherwin Williams Gets the Green Light

2010-08-30T23:41:00.001-04:00

Today, I made OUR final decision on our interior paint colors. That's one of the things I love about my husband. A lot of times, he'll give me total control of things and let's me run with it, in this case it was the paint colors. But being that I'm such a great wife, (wink-wink ;o) I like having his opinion and so I ask, what does he think of OUR final colors. He likes, making it a collaboration and, in turn, OUR decision. Not to brag, but I think we make a great team :o)

Now, the sheet rock waits for it's splash of color.

My goal is to make the walls classic and put all the fun in the accessories. Colors were selected from the Sherwin Williams collection. It took about a week's worth of time to commit to the selection but I'm sure the final result will be exactly what we wanted.

I was really drawn to the grays and thought it would be a great partner for our furnishing and the awesome floor to ceiling, rock-encrusted fireplace. The tricky thing about choosing colors for an entire space is that you have to make sure that the colors work well together but still contrast enough so you can see the difference between the rooms, all the while keeping it neutral enough so you can change the accessories as your heart desires.

I was initially wanting a gray tone in the master...

but after comparing it with our tile in the bath, I decided to go with more of a beige. It made a much better match.

Next on the agenda was deciding on a color for Mason's room. Being that it will be HIS space, I asked for his opinion. Of course he said blue, but not just any blue. He wanted the most in-your-face blue available. Obviously, it's his favorite color. I love it too, but for a room(?), not so much. So, I thought I'd go about it in a different direction and started thinking themes. "Do you want cars or sports or animals?", I asked. "I want a Batman room!", he said. Ok, I can work with that. So, we're going with a Batman gray with subtle hints of superhero action, much like this Pottery Barn adaptation.

Ok, the mural may not be so subtle but it doesn't jump out at you like bright superhero Fatheads plastered on the wall. Another option is to do a simple Batman signal for over his head board. We'll see how it goes.

For the dining room, another gray-like color and possibly a crisp white wainscoting. A little bit of character can go a looong way.

Next to come, the cabinetry. In the kitchen, creamy antique-glazed wall units and a mocha rich center island. I can just picture them now...

We're finally getting to the fun part of building our home, the decor.

Happy times :o)

Preschool Jitters

2010-08-28T12:35:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, was the start of something new. I attended my very first parent orientation. Mason will be attending preschool on September 1st. Unlike most preschool settings, this program consists of 3 buses located throughout the county which have been converted into classrooms. The children attend classes two days a week for 1hr and 45 minutes each day.

During the orientation, Ms. Lisa discussed all the policies and procedures. And as I listened, the reality started to set in. My little boy is growing up and starting school. And although it's not on a full-time basis yet, I can't help but feel a little heartbroken. Next year will be a whole different ball game and it will be here sooner than I know it. It's really hard letting go, but I know the coming year will be very helpful to the both of us.

It was clear to me that he's also going to have a hard time letting go of me as well. During the orientation, the children were invited to visit two of the three buses. First we visited Betsie, the cow spotted bus. Mason was very hesitant and held on to my leg as tight as he could. The teacher welcomed him and gave him a quick little tour. "Would you like to stay and play for a while, while I go and meet with Ms. Lisa?", I asked. He didn't like that idea. So, I thought maybe he'd like visiting BeeBee, the purple bus that was full of kids playing. Nothing changed. He still hesitated. It wasn't the reaction I was hoping for but I wasn't surprised. He's a little shy, at first, but I know he'll learn to love it once he gets used to the idea and makes new friends.

I do think that deep down inside there's a part of him that's looking forward to it. Today we met with our builder and the first thing he said to him was, "You know what?!!! I'm going to school!!!" He had the biggest grin on his face. :o)

I'm so excited for him!

2010-08-12T09:52:00.000-04:00

(Where AWESOME GREATNESS comes to light)

I'm posting at Five Moms and a Blog today.

Hope to see you there!

First Comes the Snack, Then Comes the Girl...

2010-08-06T11:00:00.003-04:00

And so it begins...

I've noticed the start of something new in my life. My little guy has started helping himself to the kitchen. In a way it's sort of bitter sweet. I LOVE that he's helping himself BUT there will be a day when I'll go reach for that ONE little snack that I tried to hide beneath a pile of equally worthy yummies, just to find an empty box. A little box flirting with me, saying come and get me, you know you want me. And as I take the bait, it gets me instead. Oh the tease of an empty cookie box.

My sister tells me it happens to her all the time. Who am I kidding... "There WILL be a day"? PA~lease, girl. The day has come.

I have to admit, it's pretty cute hearing the pitter patter of little feet and a chair scooting to it's final destination - THE KITCHEN CUPBOARD or THE FRIDGE. It all depends on the snack attack.

This is the start of him going out to dinner on his own, with his own money (nahhh, most likely still mine), with his own friends, WITH A GIRL!!!! I may be getting ahead of myself. After all, he IS just going in the kitchen, right???? I can't even think of girlfriends right now....

How Do I Look?

2010-07-21T07:00:00.004-04:00

Visit 5 Minutes For Mom for more Wordless Wednesdays.

A Super Celebration!

2010-07-15T12:33:00.003-04:00

I can't believe it's July 15th and I've yet to have posted about a very special day. It was May 23 and there was lots to celebrate. It was on this very same day that my life changed forever. Time has advanced 4 years now and the baby that once was, is now a superhero fighting crime and ridding the world of evil doers, even on his own birthday. Yes, it's no fair but when duty calls a superhero MUST answer. Luckily for him, he had lots of SUPER FRIENDS to back him up.

The Invites

The Cake

The Goodies

The Medals of Honor

In the end, the mission was accomplished. Batman and Friends banned together for a super celebration.

hello out there...

2010-05-14T09:47:00.000-04:00

can anybody hear me?

no?

nobody?

good, i'm whispering for good reason.

you see, i have to be quiet because if i'm not then you all are gonna go to tarah's blog and try to win the prize that i'm trying to win. so, i'm just gonna quietly mention her giveaway, get an extra entry by blogging about it and just hope that no one out there has super hearing powers. o.k.????

p.s. please ignore everything above about a giveaway. it's nothing really. don't even bother to look.

awww, man...

how did this big box get on here???

So much for trying to keep it on the down low...

A Moment I'll Remember

2010-05-07T10:50:00.002-04:00

When something really special's happening in your life and you want to shout it on top of the rooftops, do you find yourself trying to find the perfect way to share it with the world? I, for one, want to make it a meaningful moment, one that I'll remember forever, down to every little detail - the atmosphere, the people, the reactions and the way the message was told.

Which brings me to this little figure. It doesn't belong to me. Nevertheless, it's very special to me and it always takes me back to a dear moment in time. It was a gift I gave to my mom on her birthday a few years ago. The whole family had gathered at a Mexican restaurant for her special day. Little did everyone know that there was going to be more to celebrate that night than a birthday.

Like always, I thought long and hard about the perfect gift for my mom. But this particular year, it had to be extra special! I searched high and low and I was beginning to think I wasn't going to find what I was looking for. I didn't know exactly what it was, but as soon as I saw it, I knew I had found the perfect gift. Hidden behind a collection of nick-nacks, laid this beautiful little figurine of a boy sitting on his grandmother's lap with the sweetest little quote.

~El amor mas perfecto a veces no llega hasta que nacen los nietos.~

Sometimes the most perfect love doesn't arrive until the the birth of your grandchildren.

Not only was it in Spanish but it was also exactly what I had been looking for and it was the perfect way to share my big news with my mom. It took her some time to realize the meaning behind it, but when she did, it was a moment to remember!

Wishing Every Mother a Beautiful Mother's Day!

Especially Mine!

Easter 2010

2010-04-30T09:30:00.000-04:00

Thanks to God,

we get to celebrate a beautiful holiday known as Easter. Everything about the day is beautiful. This Easter has to have been one of my favorites. It's days like this that make me realize how lucky ,or maybe what I should say is BLESSED, to have the life I live. The cherry on top was when Brad said he'd go to church with me and he said it all on his own (without any pressuring from me :o) That just made the day even more beautiful! My husband sat through one hour of service that was entirely in Spanish and he did it for me! I was so happy! All in all, it was a beautiful Easter. We gave thanks to God for His sacrifice, enjoyed time with family, ate some yummy tostadas, and rummaged through the green grass for some good O' Easter eggs.

A knock at the door, but no one was there.

All that was left was a basket full of goodies and a BIG O' SMILE.

Scattered eggs brought scattered brains...

and the sweetest moments.

May the beauty of Easter

shine with each passing day.

3-D Eyes

2010-04-15T11:22:00.003-04:00

Waiting at the ball park...

and goofing around with 3-D glasses.

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Capture yourself in a photo and join Carin @ Forever in Blue Jeans.

This is the story....

2010-04-03T14:24:00.000-04:00

of a lovely friendship.

Not long after I started blogging, I found this blog. It's about the life of a beautiful christian family. I knew right then and there that it would be an awesome blog to follow and so I did. She is the most generous blogger I've ever run across. One day Mimi was having a giveaway and to make things a little more fun, she let us comment as many times as we wanted. Each comment would give us an entry into the giveaway. So, of course, I went crazy. And so did a few others. Everybody went so crazy with her giveaway that she ended up having 739 comments. I didn't end up winning but I did get something much better in return. She emailed me and said she wanted to ask me something. I had no idea what it could have been. All kinds of questions went through my head. Did I say something wrong??? What did I do??? Oh, no I must have went too far with my comments. But, I didn't say anything too crazy. Did I??? What was this all about??? Well, she finally responded back and I couldn't believe my eyes. Mimi invited me to be part of a group blog with some of the other crazy commentators. At first, I was so relieved. Then I was SO excited!!! My bond with Mimi got a lot closer and a few months later, I was able to meet her in real life.

Today Mimi is celebrating her 2 years of blogging and I couldn't resist posting about how our friendship came to be. I'm so glad Mimi decided to share her life through blogging. Otherwise, I would have missed out on a great friendship.

If you are one of the few who haven't visited Mimi, please do. Everyone loves her and I'm sure you will too. Once again, she's having a giveaway. She's like the gift (lady) that keeps on giving.

2010-04-01T13:13:00.003-04:00

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Keely at MannLand5

would like to welcome you to her 1st edition of Thursday Five.

It's a new blog carnival that challenges you to list

FIVE THINGS

that has made you either...

Happy...Grateful...Joyful...Elated...Appreciative...

or all of the above this week.

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THIS WEEK

(March 25 - April 1, 2010)

GRATEFUL........

Last Saturday, my daddy celebrated his 64th birthday. I'm so GRATEFUL to God for blessing me with such an amazing daddy!

JOYFUL.............

Mason brings me JOY all the time and for so many different reasons. This particular week, it was because he learned to do another impersonation. But you'll probably never guess who he turned in to. It was The Swamp Man from the show Axe Men. I can barely understand that dude but when I heard Mason sayin', "HairWayGoooo," it was as if The Swamp Man came to the Carolinas for a visit.

HAPPY.............

Yesterday I posted about Mason's newest favorite past-time, T-ball. He looked so HAPPY out there. And when he's HAPPY....then I'm HAPPY!

APPRECIATIVE...........

I've always had a close bond with my sisters. But since becoming a mommy, the bond has definitely gotten tighter between me and my sister Annette. With only a three month difference, we got to experience motherhood for the first time together. When it comes to our boys, we've done most of everything together, from Lamase to T-ball. I'm so APPRECIATIVE that God gave us the opportunity of sharing motherhood side-by-side with each other.

ELATED..............

Nothing ELATED me more this week than hearing my little 3yr old spell his name. I tried to coach him through it, but he'd just stop me right in my tracks and say, "No mommy! I wanna do it by myself!" And he sure did! Makes me wonder what else this little rabbit's gonna pull out of his hat........

Welcome to the Little Leagues

2010-03-31T16:21:00.003-04:00

Yesterday marked another first for Mason.

It was his very first day of practice as a member of the Granite Falls Reds. Before getting down to business, he made sure to catch a little down time, of course. But it didn't last long.

The clock ticked to 6:30pm and it was time to get serious, and I DO mean serious. Coach Jeff wasn't about to let his team run around like a bunch of WILD kids.

This coach had a job to do. And he did it quite well. He tamed those kids and made sure they knew they were there to do one thing - to learn the game of baseball.

Mason has never played on a team before, but you wouldn't have known it by looking at him. He looked like pro out there.

Yes at times, running wild, but mostly tamed.

He took direction pretty well and enjoyed time with his new teammates, his BIG cousin, Ki-Ki, and his little buddy, Eli.

Welcome to the Little Leagues guys!

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Join Seven Clown Circus for more Wordful Wednesdays.

He's Stepping Up to the Plate

2010-03-30T11:17:00.000-04:00

Keep others posted by joining Post It Note Tuesday with Supah Mommy.

♫ Learning to Sing ♫

2010-03-29T12:54:00.000-04:00

Today I thought I'd try something new and join Nan at Mom's The Word for Making Your Home Sing Monday. Every time you take pride in your home and in your family, you make your home sing.

Nothing is more rewarding than being a stay-at-home mom, especially when you're the one teaching you're little one his ABCs and 123s. I'm so proud of my little guy. He's like a little sponge when it comes to learning. It's always been that way. By the time he turned 2, he knew all the colors of the rainbow. I couldn't tell you how proud I was of him! Then, not long after turning 2, Mason discovered the computer and the Playhouse Disney website. Once again, I was amazed at how the knowledge came to him with such ease. Now, he navigates the computer as if he were a 3yr old Bill Gates. It's nothing short of amazement!

I can't help but wonder at times if my staying at home has anything to do with it. I'm no where close to being a rocket scientist, but I'd like to think that my one-on-one time with him has influenced him in some way.

Right now we're working on phonics. Yesterday I asked him to spell his name and slowly but surely, HE DID IT!!! Both our faces just lit up.

Sometimes, all it takes to making your home sing is to give your kids a little time and attention.

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫

2010-03-26T12:18:00.005-04:00

1. Did you pass your driver's test on the first try?

Oh Yeah!!!! Much to my surprise, I did pretty well with my driver's ed. I was so nervous about learning that I stalled the whole thing and didn't get my license til I was 17. Years later, I still get nervous about renewing my license. I was so excited to find out that I won't have to do it again til 2017. That gives me 8 years to get my eyes in gear.

2. What is your most embarrassing moment?

It happened when I was about 12. My sister had been babysitting for this lady that went to our church. The lady lived in a very nice part of town. Her home looked to be very pretty. I had never been in her house until I went to pick up my sister that day. Walking out to the car, I told my sister, "Her house is much prettier on the outside." Let's just say that the outside beauty of it didn't match the inside. Little did I know, the lady was walking right behind us. I turned around and my mouth just dropped from the embarrassment. I was so ashamed of myself. Now I understand that having kids makes it really ALMOST impossible to keep a clean house.

3. What TV show would you like to be on- Oprah, Biggest Loser, or What Not to Wear?

I hope I never get to the point where I gain so much weight that I wouldn't be able to handle losing it on my own. I'd love to be on What Not to Wear, but the only problem with that is I'd have to look like a completely hopeless cause before I get a $5000 shopping spree in NYC.

If Oprah does a show called Giving Back to Those Who Gave Their All, then I want to be on it and have my parents sitting right there next to me. They deserve to be pampered!

4. Would you ever get plastic surgery and what kind?

No way!!!! Don't get me wrong. There are plenty of things I'd like to change but plastic surgery is just too much of a drastic measure for me. I'm happy just sticking with what God gave me.

5. What are your favorite jeans to wear?

Jeans......I have the hardest time with jeans. Why do designers think that the world revolves around runway models. Maybe in their world, but in my world, I'm just a 5ft short regular girl. So, when I see a pair of jeans with the word SHORT on them, I'm all over it like white on rice!

2010-03-20T11:11:00.001-04:00

Letters I wish I could write.

Dear Front-End Loader,
Just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate all the effort you put into our basement. We understand you ran into a really rocky situation and couldn't get the job done, but no worries. We know you tried your hardest. But, with that being said, we won't be needing your services at the moment.

Thanks again,
Miti

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Dear Back Hoe,
We really appreciate you coming out to help us today! Johnny, our builder, could really use your muscle. I know it was a last minute thing, but sometimes you just gotta get out the big guns if you want to get the job done and that's where you come in. So, please, please, please dig as HARD as you can and I will love you forever.

P.S. Also if you don't mind, will you please make our temporary road for us. That would be AWESOME!

BACK HOES ROCK!!!
Miti

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Dear Producers of Clean House,
Is there any way your crew can make it to North Carolina today? My sister could really, and I mean REALLY, use y'alls help. I wish I could explain, but there just isn't much time left. Gotta go.....

Please hurry!!!!
Miti

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Dear Hefty Trash Bags,
Thank you for being so hefty, hefty!!!!! That's all.

Your loyal customer,
Miti

The Hole Shebang!

2010-03-18T13:55:00.000-04:00

I've got a new hole in my heart and I'm so happy. Who would have thought that a big hole in the ground would make me so happy. Soon that big hole is gonna be full of concrete. Then, it will be full of just random stuff. And hopefully, sometime in the future, that big hole that once was will make it's way to being a cave for my hubby. No, I didn't marry a cave man, but, apparently, that's all men want to be these days. No worries, Sweetie. I'm all for it!!!

Yesterday was the start of something beautiful...

Basement, I love you!!!!!

The Dr. Suess Look-Alike

2010-03-16T04:00:00.001-04:00

Mason and I are HUGE fans of the whimsical Dr. Suess. So, when I came across this pic, I asked him who it was. Right off the bat, he recognized The Cat in the Hat. But I was more curious if knew the man behind The Cat. So, I asked him again, "who is that man? Do you know?" He said, "yeah, that's Pa Paw." Never thought about it, but yeah, I see the resemblance now

My Day in a Nutshell

2010-03-15T12:05:00.000-04:00

Outside my window... THE SUN!!!!!!!! OH, HOW I LOVE THEE!!!

I am thinking...I need to do something with my hair. I'm starting to look like a frizzy, gray-haired Cousin It.

I am thankful for... ~ L'OREAL Excellence Creme. Just when I think, IT'S NO USE!! I'M HOPELESS, ABSOLUTELY HOPELESS, It opens up to me and says, "oh no you're NOT!! You're worth everyone of these $7 buckaroos!" Thanks L'Ore! You always know what to say!

What I'm wearing... picture Cousin It wearing pink rainbow print Patty pants and a Snoopy tank.

I am going... to tame this Cousin It once and for all

I am currently reading... about dinosaurs, superheros, and monsters, OH MY!

I am hoping... that the cold, shivering days of winter are LONG GONE! I'm O.K. with never seeing another snowflake in my life.

On my mind... is Mason's birthday. I've got about 2 months to plan. So far, I've figured out that a mouse named Chuck wants to rob me and in the process, drive me INSANE!!!

Noticing that... I do a pretty good Spongebob impersonation. Mason's got me practicing a lot.

From the kitchen... I hear the dishes SCREAMING my name. (hold your horseradishes, I'll be right there!)

Around the house... Mason's running in circles.

One of my favorite things ... waking up and seeing my little angel RESTING next me.

Celebrating with a Movie

2010-02-25T10:55:00.010-05:00

Saturday we celebrated a very special birthday! My nephew, Christian, turned a whopping 4yrs old! He had the coolest little birthday party at the movies. He blew out the candles and we munched on some cake...some of us while watching the movie ;0)

The kids had a BLAST watching Alvin and the Chipmunks The Squeakquel.

I've never seen a movie theater full of so many kids. They were everywhere and so were their high pitched giggles!!! It was such a cute movie and an awesome way to celebrate!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KI-KI!
LOVE YOU BUNCHES,
Tia Miti

10 Things I LOVE about my Love

2010-02-14T12:48:00.003-05:00

10. His good-bye kisses oh my cheek every morning. No matter how far asleep I am, I always seem to wake for that one little second and it puts a smile on my face.

9. The way he LOVES to give Mason kisses on his little chubby cheeks and on the tip of his little nose til Mason can't take no more. He loves his little boy so much that he just can't help himself.

8. How everyone admires him. I'm so proud he's my husband forever and ever. AMEN!

7. He treats ALL our parents with the GREATEST respect. Not once have I ever seen him be disrespectful.

6. The way he recognizes a good thing when he sees it. He's got the best intuition. How does he do it?!!!

5. He's always teaching me something new. The funny little slangs are my favorite lessons.

4. He's a jokester. We've almost reached our 13 years together and he still gives me those almost-peed-my-pants belly laughs.

3. Seeing him cry when Mason was born. A moment I'll never forget.

2. He's a go-getter. He likes getting things done and doing them well.

1. He makes it so easy to stay in love with him.

2010-02-10T10:17:00.004-05:00

THE LOVE DARE

Day 20

LOVE IS JESUS CHRIST

While we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
-Romans 5:6

TODAY'S DARE

Dare to take God at his word. Dare to trust Jesus Christ for salvation. Dare to pray, "Lord Jesus, I'm a sinner. But you have shown Your love for me by dying to forgive my sins, and You have proven Your power to save me from death by Your resurrection. Lord, change my heart, and save me by Your grace."

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♥ Isn't God's love the most amazing thing?!!! I pray that those who don't believe will realize the beauty of His love. It amazes me that in spite of all my flaws, He continues to watch over me. My life would not be complete without Him.

2010-02-10T09:48:00.006-05:00

THE LOVE DARE

Day 19

LOVE IS IMPOSSIBLE!

Let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
-1 John 4:7

TODAY'S DARE

Look back over the dares from previous days. Were there some that seemed impossible to you? Have you realized your need for God to change your heart and to give you the ability to love? Ask him to show you where you stand with him, and ask for the strength and grace to settle your eternal destination.

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♥ I have yet to do days 1-10 because I got a little late start, but nevertheless, I plan on doing them at some point along the way. With that being said, days 11-18 have been so inspirational. Each day filled me with great insight and I'm more confident that we are, at the very least, on the right track. Thanks Be To God!!!

2010-02-09T14:25:00.000-05:00

THE LOVE DARE
Day 18

LOVE SEEKS TO UNDERSTAND

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding.
-Proverbs 3:13

TODAY'S DARE

Prepare a special dinner at home, just for the two of you. The dinner can be as nice as you prefer. Focus this time on getting to know your spouse better, perhaps in areas you've rarely talked about. Determine to make it an enjoyable evening for you and your mate.

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♥ Oh, how I LOVE having dinner with just my awesome hubby. This is one dare that truly is a challenge. It's a rare occasion for us. And when we do get the chance, we're usually talking about Mason and missing him. That little munchkin has us tied around his little finger. It's hard to believe there was a time when we had other things to talk about. He is a part of us now and I'm so glad I have Brad next to me.

2010-02-09T12:14:00.005-05:00

THE LOVE DARE
Day 17

LOVE PROMOTES INTIMACY!

He who cover over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
-Proverbs 17:9

TODAY'S DARE

Determine to guard your mate's secrets (unless they are dangerous to them or to you) and to pray for them. Talk with your spouse, and resolve to demonstrate love in spite of these issues. Really listen to them when they share personal thoughts and struggles with you. Make them feel safe.

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♥ Intimacy is defined as having a close, familiar, and affectionate personal relationship with another person. You know you have a great marriage when your husband is also your best friend. What makes a best friend? Well, to me a best friend is someone who allows you to be yourself and someone you feel comfortable with. A best friend is someone who brings out the best in you and always encourages. I don't like keeping things from Brad. I tell him everything. There are things that are just between the two of us, some of which are just silly things we do. I love having little inside jokes with him. I love giving him a big o' hug just because and getting one in return. Even just a smile from him makes me feel like the happiest girl around. That's why he's my best friend and I'm proud to call him my husband.

2010-02-09T12:00:00.002-05:00

THE LOVE DARE
DAY 16

LOVE INTERCEDES

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. -3 John 2

TODAY'S DARE

Begin praying today for your spouse's heart. Pray for three specific areas where you desire for God to work in your spouse's life and in your marriage.

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♥ Prayer is such an amazing thing. With prayer, comes guidance and hope. It even brings forth miracles for some, like myself. Every time I pray, I pray for God to watch over all those I love, to protect them from harm and sicknesses and to give them the strength and guidance to live happy and healthy lives. But also for me, prayer isn't just for times in need. It's for showing gratitude. I want Him to know that I am grateful for all He has brought into my life. After all, a gift received without gratitude is a gift undeserving.

2010-02-05T16:30:00.002-05:00

THE LOVE DARE
Day 15

LOVE IS HONORABLE

Live with your wives in an understanding way...and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life. -1 Peter 3:7

TODAY'S DARE

Choose a way to show honor and respect to your spouse that is above your normal routine. It may be holding the door for her. It might be putting his clothes away for him. It may be the way you listen and speak in your communication. Show your mate that he or she is highly esteemed in your eye!

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♥ To honor your loved one is to regard or treat them with respect. I believe that a marriage without respect, is a marriage bond to lose it's ground. If you respect one another, then your foundation will be strong and if your foundation is strong then the relationship will endure the test of time.

One way to show honor is to stand behind each others' decisions. I trust Brad's judgment and I know he has the knowledge to make wise decisions. I make it a point to treat him as I would like to be treated. After all, to get respect you must earn respect and earning it means considering the other's thoughts and feelings.

But it's not only in how you treat each other. It's also in how you teach your children to treat your spouse. If I see Mason's being disrespectful towards his daddy, then I let him know that it's wrong. As the heads of a family, parents need to have each other's support.

2010-02-04T21:35:00.003-05:00

THE LOVE DARE
Day 14

LOVE TAKES DELIGHT

Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting life. —Ecclesiastes 9:9 HCSB

TODAY’S DARE
Purposefully neglect an activity you would normally do so you can spend quality time with your spouse. Do something he or she would love to do or a project they’d really like to work on. Just be together.

*********************************
♥ If Brad's not working then we're usually together. Once in a blue moon, we'll hang out with our friends, but for the most part, even when we're with friends, we're with each other. I'd much rather do things with him than without. Even the most mundane things are done together. I feel like I keep repeating myself, but it goes to show that I truly do cherish my husband and I do take delight in spending time with him. Yes, it's important to make time for each other, but spending time apart can also be just as beneficial. I'm not sure if time apart is included as a dare in this process, but for us it's a key element in our happy marriage. If Brad wants to go golfing with his buddies down at the coast, it's alright with me. I don't want to be the one that keeps him from enjoying his life. And it's a mutual feeling between the two of us. It goes without saying that to make that work you must trust and, in return, be worthy of the other's trust.

2010-02-03T09:08:00.001-05:00

THE LOVE DARE
Day 13

LOVE FIGHTS FAIR
If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
—Mark 3:25

TODAY’S DARE

Talk with your spouse about establishing healthy rules of engagement. If your mate is not ready for this, then write out your own personal rules to “fight” by. Resolve to abide by them when the next disagreement occurs.If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

********************************
♥ If you know Brad and I, personally, then you know that we have one of the happiest marriages you'd ever see. We've been married for 8 years now and we know that a happy marriage is one that compromises. Yesterday, I spoke of myself wanting to reach a common ground with him on a particular subject, but there's not any conflicting behaviors brought forth about it. Fights are pretty nonexistent. How is that possible? Well, like I said, we compromise, and whether it's in our actions or the words we speak, we are always very respectful towards one another. Yes, we've had our little spouts over silly, unimportant things, but we never go to bed upset with one another. And I give him full credit for that. If he sees I'm not 100% happy with him at the moment, then he'll try his hardest to get me smiling and it always works. What can I say? I'm a sucker. I can't stay mad at him. He's such an amazing husband and father; and he works so hard for us that all those silly, unimportant things just don't matter to me. But if that wasn't the case, then I know it wouldn't be so easy. That's why I thank God ALWAYS for pairing us up together. He is a gift that I get to enjoy everyday.

2010-02-02T11:30:00.003-05:00

THE LOVE DARE
Day 12

LOVE LETS THE OTHER WIN

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.—Philippians 2:4

TODAY’S DARE

Demonstrate love by willingly choosing to give in to an area of disagreement between you and your spouse. Tell them you are putting their preference first.

********************

♥ At first I thought I had nothing for today's dare, but I knew there just had to be something. Nothing can be that perfect, right?! So I thought for a moment and the only instance I could think of in which we have the slightest disagreement concerns our attending church. Our situation is quite complicated. I was raised Catholic and he as a Methodist. When we got married I vowed to my parents and to myself that I would continue following the Catholic faith. Brad has never disapproved of my attending church while he stayed home. He even approves of me taking Mason. I'm really grateful for that, but I can't help but feel a little sad when he's not there with us, especially when you see families seating together in the church pews. Now that our little Mason is getting older, I'd really like for us to attend church as a family on a regular basis and he mentioned the same to me. The only problem is finding a common ground. I know attending two different churches would not be the way to go. We need something more stable for the sake of our little Mason, but what's that common ground? I guess the only way to find out would be for the two of us to determine together how we are going to go about it. I'm willing to attend a church of his choice and I hope he would be willing to do the same for me. If we give this a chance, maybe we'll find that common ground and we can grow a little closer to God, TOGETHER, as a family. The idea of attending a non-Catholic church is really hard for me to process but I know that with God's guidance we'll figure this out.

2010-02-01T10:35:00.008-05:00

THE LOVE DARE
DAY 11

A few weeks ago my husband, Brad, and I watched the movie Fireproof. I thought we were in for a really good movie about heros in fire suits saving the lives of others, but there was more to this story. As the story unfolded, we realized that the main character in the movie wasn't a firefighter saving lives. The main focus of the movie was faith and how it strengthens us if we grasp on to it wholeheartedly. It's message was one of beauty and one that encourages me to love a little more.

In the movie, a book, called The Love Dare, was brought to the attention of the firefighter by his father. Each day, for 40 days, The Love Dare challenged him to take that extra step, to do something extra special for his wife. The book played a major role in restoring the firefighters faith. And in the end, as his faith in God became stronger, so did the love between him and his wife.

Today I'm daring myself to take The Love Dare challenge. In a way, I don't see it as being much of a challenge because Brad and I have always had a strong relationship. Instead I see this dare more as a WANT than a NEED for us. I want him to know that he is a blessing and that I would do anything for him.

Sherri at Famlies are Fun invited me to join along with her and others for The Love Dare Challenge. They've gotten a head start and so I'm jumping right in with them on Day 11. Is it possible to make something better that looks perfect in my eyes? I'm not sure but I'm up for the challenge.

TODAY'S DARE
TO CHERISH - to hold dear : feel or show affection for : to keep or cultivate with care and affection

What need does your spouse have that you could meet today? Can you run an errand? Give a back rub or foot massage? Is there housework you could help with? Choose a gesture that says, “I cherish you” and do it with a smile.

*********************
♥ I thought pretty hard of what I could do to show Brad how much I cherish him. With my wimpy little hands I thought a massage would really do him no good, although he might have gotten a really good laugh out of it. Housework, I do it all the time. But something I hardly ever do is iron his clothes. Last night, as he was enjoying a little down time watching t.v., I got his clothes ready for work. All he had left to do this morning was shower and get dressed. While I was ironing, he came into the room and said, "Sweetie, you don't have to do that." I knew I didn't HAVE to do it, but I wanted to and it felt good to do something nice for him just because.

Just a Little Catching-up

2010-01-26T12:16:00.014-05:00

Today, I just wanted to play a little catch-up on some awards that were given to me way back in 2009. It took a little digging but I think I found them all. (Facebookers, don't roll your eyes at me.)

I got this Lovely one from Richele @ Under the Golden Apple Tree.

For some reason she thinks my blog is lovely and for that I say, {{{THANKS, RICHELE !!!}}}. It was lovely of you to think of lil'O'me. I've been doing a lot of blog jogging lately and I've also run into some pretty lovely blogs that are new-to-me.

It's with great honor that I pass along the lovely award to the following 15 4 (this post is long enough as it is):

A Joyful Chaos: If you haven't run across this lovely blog, you should definitely check it out! Stories of her Amish childhood intrigue me to the point of wanting to read more and more and more. It's like a good book you can't put down and I'm sure you'll love it too.
Families Are Fun!: Sherri loves spending quality time with her 5 (That's right! I said 5) kids and you'll love spending your quality time at her lovely blog.
The 6 La La's: If you saw my last post, then you probably recognize the name. And yeah, I still La La Love the sound of it. Not only does this lovely blog have a lovely name, but there's also a lot of love put into it. Laura has a great Valentines Day (or maybe I should say - DAYS) tradition called The Fourteen Days of Love. And the love doesn't end there. She and Sherri are also participating in The Love Dare. I'll eventually do it myself, but I'm so glad I found these two ladies because since seeing the movie Fireproof, I've been wanting to do my own Love Dare and it's nice to see it being played out in real-life.
No Time for Flash Cards: This one I just found yesterday. I love it because it's full of great learning activities that are perfect for me to enjoy with Mason. One of my New Year's resolutions is to get out the plastic scissors and glue and do more hands on activities with him. I look forward to exploring this lovely little blog.

My friend Cathy at Tales of the TCKK Family welcomed me into her circle of friends with this next award. You know what comes next - another little list.

5 Things I LOVE to Do

marathons
scuba diving
sky diving
ballroom dancing
cleaning bathrooms

Just Kidding... I was just seeing if I could pull your legs and I'm sure you didn't fall for it. I've never done any of those, well except that last one but I hate every minute of it.

Moving it along.... I received a really sweet award (believe it or not - THIS WEEK) from Bridget @ Among the Chaos.

I must confess
10 THINGS ABOUT MYSELF

I guess I should start by coming clean about
5 things I REALLY, TRULY, HONESTLY DO love doing.

Cooking
Eating (I'll eat just about anything. *See 5 More Things About Me)
Being silly with my little sidekick.
Blogging til the cows come home (or better yet, til Mason says, "Hold you?")
Going places (It's been a LONG week. Mason's been sick so our home has been our oyster. Ummmm, oysters, that sounds yummy.)

5 More Things About Me?

I want to use my sewing machine but I don't have a clue how
My husband was my first and ONLY boyfriend when I was 18. I still can't believe I got it right the first time.
Some people think I'm quite but they just haven't gotten to know me.
I'm not picky.
Things I've eaten ( AND WILL EAT AGAIN): Liver mush, escargot, cow's tongue (don't knock it til you try it), sushi, brussel sprouts, spinach, shrimp, grits, shrimp & grits, all things coffee, all things spicy (to a certain degree), palmitos (palm tree), squirrel (My husband's fault and that's one I WON'T be doing again), and of course oysters. I think I've eaten alligator too at some point. The list goes on and on.... I told ya I'm not picky.
(one more little thing for good measure) I love saying "little".

So that's it. Thanks to all the ladies for passing along the awards. It's nice to know y'all care :o)

G. WHAT A. GIVEAWAY U. SHOULD CHECK IT OUT B. FOR IT'S TOO LATE

2010-01-25T23:19:00.009-05:00

Yesterday I was killing some time and came across a new-to-me blog called The 6 La La's (cute name, huh?). She's having a H.U.G.E. giveaway. Visit her blog to enter for a chance to win a 42" letter of your choice valued at $75.

Pretty cool, right?!!! I'm lovin' it, and I'm thinking a GIANT LETTER C would make a great focal point for my new home. See, it pays to do a little blog jog every now and then. (O.K., O.K., I haven't won yet but the possibility is there.) I better stop that talk before I jinks myself.

2010-01-24T15:11:00.009-05:00

Someone's not feeling too good.

MEDICAL REPORT

Patient: Mason
Symptoms: Coughing, Sneezing, and a Runny Nose
Self-Diagnosis: Brains in his belly

MOTHER'S RESPONSE
OH MY!

DOCTOR'S NOTES

Sounds to me like either the patient's made a new medical discovery or he's discovered the secret to eating smarter. Must keep overnight for observation.

Dinner His Way, Right Away

2010-01-21T15:36:00.009-05:00

Last night my husband and I experienced another milestone in our little guy's life. I was cooking dinner. The menu consisted of roasted red bell peppers stuffed with ground beef, broccoli and cheese couscous, and black beans with cilantro. But the one thing I didn't expect to be on the menu was a peanut butter sandwich made by two little hands.

Mason pulled out the Peter Pan and his snake spoon and made his first meal all by himself.

Never did he ask me for help. As a matter of fact, I didn't even know he was THAT hungry. I usually have to beg him to eat. But last night I saw a glimpse of what I hope he'll become as a man - a man that feeds himself if he's hungry. That's a BEAUTIFUL thing!

As I was cleaning, I made a little discovery. All the times I've spent in the kitchen, I never realized I had a student observing me. What can we say? Sometimes you just can't wait for dinner to be served, no matter who's cooking. I didn't think I'd see this day come so soon, but we're so proud of him. He's one step closer to being all grown up.

The Million Dollar Question

2010-01-20T13:37:00.005-05:00

Today at the Five Moms and a Blog, Tarah posed a very interesting question.

What would you do with a $20 MILLION DOLLAR lottery ticket?

Wow! 20 million dollars!!! I know people say money doesn't buy happiness but it would make life a little easier. There's so much I would want to do, especially for my parents.

The first thing I would do is buy my daddy a brand new car. He hasn't driven anything with a new car smell in 28 years, maybe longer. He's always having car trouble and I always think, wow, if only I could buy him one. He really deserves it.

Then I would buy my parents a beautiful home. Something they could truly call their own, worry free. Not only would I make sure they were mortgage free but also I'd make sure they had water coming out of their ears. You see, my parents' well dried out a couple of years ago and a new well doesn't come cheap. At the age of 66 my daddy must constantly lift heavy buckets of water for everything, in a house of five. Makes me treasure every drop that comes out of my faucets.

As soon as they're settled into their new home and driving in style, I would take them to Costa Rica. They haven't returned in 28 years and in those years my daddy had to miss my grandmother's funeral. Breaks my heart every time I think about it.

They dream of winning the lottery all the time, but they always say the first thing they would do is build my sisters and I new homes and make a family neighborhood. We always joke about. I call that dream the Pochet Compound after my maiden name. It's a lovely thought but I think that might be a little too close for comfort. I love my family but y'all know what I'm talking about.

My dream is to take care of my parents first because no one deserves the goodwill more than them. Their comfort would mean the world to me.

From the Bottom of My Heart - Thank You

2010-01-19T08:37:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to write a quick post to say thank you to all of you for leaving me such sweet words of comfort regarding the loss of Petey. Losing someone you love is always hard, but when you hear the kindness coming from others, it seems to cushion the blow. So, thank you all.

Remembering Petey

2010-01-18T12:12:00.002-05:00

Saturday morning we lost a very special member of our family. Our little dog of 8 years passed away unexpectedly. Petey had been with us since he was a little pup. I sit here thinking of the many sweet memories I have of him. It's hard to think of him with dry eyes. He was the epitome of goodness & loyalty and he gave me my first role as a mother.

One of the fond memories I have of Petey was when he was brand new to us. Following the care of his birth mother, Maddie, we welcomed him into our home. It was my husband's idea to get a doggie and so, I was all up for it. In the very first days, he would wake up whining in the middle of the night and being in a new home made it understandable. My husband had very early mornings and so not to wake him up, I would slip out of bed and rock Petey back and forth, back and forth until he'd finally fall back to sleep. Then I would gently lay him in his laundry basket cradle. Many times, though, all he wanted to do was play. But I didn't mind it one bit.

Little did I know, he wasn't just going to be a pet, he was going to be a special part of our family and extended family as well. My niece and nephews always asked how Petey was doing and he seemed to be the main attraction with their every visit. He loved his family and was so protective of us. This I knew from the very beginning.

One evening, when he was still just a little pup, he did something I'll never forget. We were outside, just the two of us, when two strange dogs began approaching. I was oblivious to them. All I was thinking was how much I loved this little dog. As I held Petey he began to growl. I had heard him growl before in a playful manner but this time I knew he wasn't in any mood to play. As I turned around, there stood the two large dogs. Petey kept growling til they turned their backs and went the other way. He defended me as if he were a K-9 and I was his partner.

In a way, it was true. We were a team. I taught him how to dance, how to roll over and sit and lay down, and how to put his paw out to say howdy in true gentleman style.

There's a stillness and silence in the air that makes our hearts hurt. Mason knows he's gone to doggie Heaven, but I don't think he really understands. No longer will we be be warned of the arrival of visitors or greeted by his smiling face. He is irreplaceable and will forever be missed.

Rest in peace, Petey. We love you.
{January 15, 2002 - January 16, 2010}

Snow Was in the Air

2010-01-07T08:54:00.009-05:00

A week before Christmas, a snow storm came through our neck of the woods and we enjoyed every little snowflake. It kept coming down, burying us 1ft deep. And it lingered.... And lingered.... And lingered..... It's three weeks later and the yard is still patchy with the stuff. I think I've got my fix for this winter.

PS. Today I'm chatting at the Five Moms. Hope to see ya there!

2009-12-09T11:55:00.005-05:00

♥ I don't know what I'd do with out my little bear ♥

It's That Time Again!

2009-12-03T08:15:00.010-05:00

Time to pick another Peep of the Month. Last month's winner was Cathy at Tales of the TCKK Family. Thanks to Scrapblog I was able to make her a brand new header and a matching button to go along with it.

If you would like a chance to win a new header and button, just leave me a comment, follow me here at Pieces of Me and there at the Five Moms and a Blog, and don't forget my little button. December's Peep of the Month will be chosen Monday, December 7th.

For more header samples click here.

A Special Delivery

2009-12-01T10:41:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, we welcomed a new little member into our family. My sister, Danizza, had a beautiful little girl. She's so precious and sweet; and if she didn't have to eat, I'd still be there holding her now.

Unfortunately, her big brother and sister will have to wait til she comes home to meet her. The hospital isn't allowing visitors under the age of 18 as a precaution during the flu season.

We took lots of pictures...

and some video so they could see her in all her glory.

So precious!!!!

I asked them what they thought of their little sister and my niece just simply said with a smile, "I love her."

We love her too and we're so happy she's here.

He Is My Sunshine!

2009-11-23T11:08:00.011-05:00

This has to be one of my all time favorite photos of Mason. I love the way the sun shines so beautifully on his little face.

You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
when skies are gray.
You'll never know dear
How much ♥ I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.

*****************************

I Heart Faces is a photography contest in which beginners, amateurs and pros can enter their favorite photos. Each week brings a new theme and lots of great photos!

This week's theme: Sun Flare

SUPERHERO MEDICINE, TO THE RESCUE!!!!!!!

2009-11-21T07:58:00.009-05:00

Something awesome happened this week!

Mason got both his H1N1 and seasonal flu shots. I've been so worried that he wasn't going to be able to receive them this year because of the limited supply. He had an appointment back in Oct. which got canceled because of the shortage. It took a whole month for the pediatrician to receive another supply.

When I made the appointment this time around, I was so excited and just hoping & praying that it wouldn't get canceled again. You know things are pretty bad when you're actually looking forward to getting your little one vaccinated, but I'm just glad that he had another chance for protection. So when the day came for his appointment, I was one happy momma. I told him we were going to the doctors office to get him a dose of the Superhero medicine. He was all for it! After all, every superhero needs his superhero medicine.

He was scheduled to receive only the seasonal shot, but when the nurse finally came in, she said they had just received the H1N1 nasal mist that day. "AWESOME!! Let's get this over with," I told her.

He did great! The nasal mist was a piece of cake. All it took was a sniff, sniff and that was it. And as I grabbed a hold of his little hands to brace him for the seasonal, the nurse was already aiming for his little leg and BAM! That was it for that one. Poor little thing started crying, understandably so. We BOTH were shocked from the sudden impact. She wasted not time at all, but that is the best way to do it. Just a WHAM, BAM, and a {BIG} THANK YOU MA'AM!! Thank God! My little superhero now has a shield of protection and I have ~~piece~~ peace of mind.

2009-11-19T04:00:00.002-05:00

Hey you wanna go to the Five Moms and a Blog with me today?

AWESOME!!!

Don't worry. We won't stay long. I just need to grab a few things. We'll be back in a jiffy. I promise.

2009-11-15T22:50:00.004-05:00

It's true. Falling leaves make a monstrosity of a mess, but put them behind a beautiful little face and you've got yourself a masterpiece of a photo.

**************************************

I Heart Faces is a photography contest in which beginners, amateurs and pros can enter their favorite photos. Each week brings a new theme and lots of great photos!

This Week's Theme: Autumn Beauty

NOVEMBER'S PEEP OF THE MONTH IS......

2009-11-09T13:35:00.017-05:00

I'm so excited!! I've got my first winner for the 12-Month Header Giveaway. If you haven't heard what it's all about, please click on the picture above for all the details.

Many of you have already worked with professional designers and are not interested in any changes at the moment (I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND =0) , but you can still be a Peep of the Month. And you won't be going home empty handed either. Each one of my winners is gonna receive a digital scrapped photo of their family to frame and enjoy at home. I love all my Peeps so much that I didn't want to leave any of you out.

So I guess you're wondering who
Commented...
Followed...
And
WON
RIGHT?!

Well, I'll get right to it.

NOVEMBER'S PEEP OF THE MONTH IS .....

Cathy from Tales of the TCKK Family

Let's take a Peep shall we?
Cathy is a wife and mother of 2 teenager girls. She has been following me here at Pieces of Me and there at Five Moms and a Blog for sometime now. She truly is as sweet as they come. And just like many of us, she LOVES the world of Disney.

Congratulations Cathy!
Please send me your email address. Can't wait to get to work.
Hope you enjoy my little special delivery.

Please go visit Cathy at Tales of the TCKK Family when you get a chance.

Thank y'all so much!!!

AND REMEMBER, THIS IS
A YEAR-LONG GIVEAWAY.
SO I HOPE YOU'LL CONTINUE TO VISIT ME FOR A CHANCE TO WIN.
The comments for the remainder of the the month will be entered into Decembers giveaway.

One Year and 114 Followers Later...

2009-11-07T09:47:00.013-05:00

Well, today's the day!!! I've officially completed my first year of blogging. And I'm happy to say I've learned a few things along the way.

1. I CAN be friends with strangers. (It's very true. Of course, you can never be too careful. You've gotta use your best judgment, be very selective, and keep your principles in mind.)

2. The longer I blog, the more I wanna get followed. (I love being followed. Followers don't scare me. They make me very happy =D The more, the merrier, right?! DISCLAIMER: Weirdos NOT welcomed-see#1)

3. If I write, they will come. (It makes sense. Why would anybody wanna visit me if I'm never home?! I'm just surprised anybody wants to come over PERIOD!)

4. Blogging makes me wanna take pictures I never thought I'd be taking. (You wouldn't believe the random pics I have in my picture file. As soon as my husband sees me pulling out my little Kodak Easyshare, he gets that look of - HERE WE GO AGAIN- SOMETHING ELSE TO BLOG ABOUT.....)

5. I now know 3 (Yeah, that's right! THREE) different languages -

ENGLISH, SPANISH, and HTML.

I can strike a ~~pose~~.

I can move it right along..............

All because I know HTML!

5. If someone says, "Tag, You're It!", STAY PUT. (No need to start running around the house like a crazed 5 year old.)

6. A carnival doesn't need any rides or cotton candy to be fun. (Heck, I don't even have to leave the house to enjoy a good carnival)

(Just to name a few)

7. If I'm lost for words, it's always good to check what's on draft. (No, I'm not talking beer, people. GROSS! I'm talking posts here.)

8. A button is like a message in a bottle. (Just sitting there, waiting to be grabbed. My little button has crossed the border all the way into Alaska and it's sailed the seas as far as the Philippines. Pretty cool, huh?!)

9. Give and you shall receive. (When you have a giveaway, not only are you giving a little something back to all your followers. You also receive lots of new bloggy friends. Speaking of giveaways, have you heard about this one?)

10. I LOVE BLOGGING!!!! (I LOVE IT! i love it! I LOVE IT! And I'm gonna keep blogging for as long as my laptop shall live.)

2009-11-05T15:02:00.005-05:00

Hello, I am.....
BATMAN!

And this is my mommy.

No Superhero achieves greatness all on his own.
Behind every Great Superhero, is a
Great ~~Grandmother~~ Superwoman!
This is mine. I call her Nene.

Here is one of the world's greatest mentors. I like to call him... PaPaw. But don't let the name fool you. He is a man of tremendous strength and courage.

I have been very fortunate to be teamed up with an amazing team. We've been together since the very beginning and we always band together when times get tricky.

And we always have each others' backs.

Joking aside, this is camaraderie at it's very best.

We Superheros don't mind sharing the spotlight.

It's all part of the team dynamic.

When the work is done and tricks are no longer played, then it's off to my bat cave where my treats await.

I am.......

Heads Up! My Header Giveaway Is Here!

2009-11-03T07:27:00.003-05:00

My blogoversary is almost here and to celebrate, I wanna give a little back!

I know many of y'all can't keep your hands off your blog's design but having one custom made can be pricey and trying to tackle it yourselves can be tricky.

So what's a blogger to do when you get that little nudge to mix it up again?

Well, queue the super hero music cause my giveaway is about to come to your rescue. But hold up y'all. This isn't another blog makeover giveaway, well not exactly. I wish it were but my brain, patience and pocket-book just won't cut me any slack. Oh well, that's alright cause my heart is all in for helping y'all out. Maybe one day I'll be able to wrap my brain around the tricks of the trade. But until then, I'll give you a little piece of the blog makeover puzzle - a custom header. Just think of it as a small token of my appreciation.

OH! YOU WANNA HEAR MORE?

Ok, here's the scoop. I will be giving away one OH-SO-CUTE header each month for one year. November's winner will be getting a little extra somethin' somethin'. Each winner will be announced and featured as my Peep of the Month on the 1st Monday of the month.

Here are a few samples of my header creations.
There will be more to come soon.

as seen on Pieces of Me

So Here's how to enter monthly.

COMMENT, COMMENT, COMMENT - The more comments you leave me throughout the month, the more chances you have to win.
SPREAD THE WORD - Blog about my year-long giveaway and let me know. If you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours by giving you (5) extra entries for each month you do so.

To qualify, you MUST:

FOLLOW ME HERE - Join my Penless Pen Pals
FOLLOW US THERE - Join me and my gals at the 5 Moms and a Blog
GRAB & GO - Grab my little blogoversary giveaway button.

That's all there is to it! Easy Peasy, Right?!
Looking forward it! Hope y'all are too.

Much love,

* This month's winner will be chosen next Monday, November 9, 2009.

Balloon Serenade

2009-11-02T09:08:00.013-05:00

When Mason was a little baby he just couldn't get enough of Elmo. There were Elmo(s) everywhere I turned, little stuffed ones, BIG stuffed ones, ticklish ones, dancing ones and the list went on and on all the way into his first birthday. This enormous balloon was always a big hit on our trips to the grocery store and so when his birthday finally came around, it came along with us. It was HUGE! But the neatest thing about it was that with every little tug it would sing Happy Birthday. Mason loved it so much that he would grab it and squeeze, squeeze, squeeze until he couldn't squeeze any more. It's too bad life can't remain as simple as finding happiness in a BIG balloon serenade.

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I Heart Faces is a photography contest in which beginners, amateurs and pros can enter their favorite photos. Each week brings a new theme and lots of great photos!

This Week's Theme: Balloons

CLICK HERE
TO GET THE SCOOP ON MY YEAR LONG GIVEAWAY!!

2009-10-27T04:00:00.006-04:00

The secret's finally out!

Today I'm being featured at Sneaky Momma. A few months ago my friend Jill, aka Sneaky Momma, got this great idea to showcase one blogger each week. In order to be one of her Secret Sneaky Friends you must answer a collection of questions put together by other bloggers. Here are just a few of the questions I decided to answer, but hey I'm not gonna spill the beans here. You'll just have to visit the Sneaky Momma to get the scoop.

You can only wear one accessory for the rest of your life...which do you choose? Submitted by Whitney

If you were stranded on an island with your Mother in law what would you do? Submitted by Robyn

If you could go on a date with one celebrity, who would it be? Submitted by Kelsey

Ok, so aren't you just a little bit curious???

Alright.....well if you won't do it for me, will you do it for Sneaky Momma.
Please go visit her sneaky blog. You'll be glad you did!

Hope to see ya there!

A{Mason} Little Monkey

2009-10-26T10:51:00.006-04:00

Time for some Halloween dress up at I Heart Faces.

God blessed my little guy with the chubbiest little cheeks, perfect for filling out this cute little monkey costume. I couldn't wait to take my little monkey trick or treating for the first time even though he couldn't eat any of the treats. I think I just looked forward to showing him off. Fast forward three years later and yup, his chubby cheeks are still hanging strong and he's still a little monkey.

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I Heart Faces is a photography contest in which beginners, amateurs and pros can enter their favorite photos. Each week brings a new theme and lots of great photos!

Momma Saw the Doctor and the Doctor Said...

2009-10-23T11:00:00.001-04:00

I went to see my "family" doctor the other day just to get a check up. He pulled out his stethoscope and began to listen to my beating heart.

"Thum Thum....Thum Thum....Thum Thum,"
the doctor said quietly with deep concentration.

"So how's it sound, Doc? Am I good?" I asked.

"Nope," he replied.
"You're sick and sour."

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GOT THE GIGGLES?
CHECK OUT MORE FRIDAY FUNNIES @ HOMESTEADERS HEART

2009-10-22T10:35:00.005-04:00

Son of a Son-Maid

It's my turn at Five Moms and a Blog .
Hope to see ya there!

Raggedy Ann and Candy

2009-10-21T15:36:00.005-04:00

Come for a walk with me down Memory Lane!
And if you have a "Memory Lane" post, head on over to Scottsville to join in on the fun!

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Today, I'm reminiscing about one of my earliest memories of
TRICK OR TREATING.

I didn't grow up in the normal household were all the kids got dressed up in their fun costumes each year. My parents frowned upon it and they'd always say "There's nothing to celebrate." The funny thing is that even though "there wasn't anything to celebrate," we always seemed to have our light turned on and candy to hand out. I guess in a way, giving away the precious candy was a good thing and it worked in our favor, because there were a few times when we managed to butter them up into letting us go trick or treating. And when we did, finding a costume was literally a last minute thing. So when the happy kids would show up to our door with their pumpkin baskets overflowing with all that goodness, my parents just could not deny us our happiness any longer. But, like I said, it didn't always work. So the few times it did, the memories are very fond in my mind.

My very first time going trick or treating, I went as Raggedy Ann. I guess looking back my sisters got the short end of the witches' stick. One sister was an Indian, another a Costa Rican traditional dancer, and the other a Costa Rican peasant girl. Raggedy Ann was looking pretty good to me. I was one happy little rag doll.

Once Upon a Medieval Time

2009-10-17T08:51:00.001-04:00

Once upon a time, just last week,

there stood a Medieval Times Castle in a faraway land,
aka Myrtle Beach.

Crowds of noblemen gathered
in hopes they'd get the royal treatment.

They'd heard of the castle's entertaining enrichment.

So with a blare of the trumpets and a greet from above,

the King enters with the love of his son.

Then it's off to the arena to begin the festivity,
but fear struck with word of the Prince's captivity.

Cries were heard from a little boy blue,

but soon they were gone with a falcon who flew.

With smiles on faces,

It was time for the races.

And as the knights jolted with swords in tow,

cheers were heard for the good and the foe.

As the story was told and it was unfolded,
The Green Knight was continuously scolded.

Meanwhile Noblemen were fed a feast for their eyes,
all at the expense of a dragon's demise.

With an ummmm ummmm here
and an ummmmm ummmm there,
The Noblemen could not get enough of the delicious
bill of fare.

And so, to make a loooong story short
Shall I get to the point?
The ending was happy
for all the King's court.

LeAnn Whines

2009-10-16T08:27:00.013-04:00

Mason woke up this morning and immediately turned on the T.V. and out of all the things there is to watch, he decides that he wants to watch music videos. Sounds good to me! So there I was, making his breakfast, thinking "Oooo I like this song!" Then suddenly I hear him say,

"Mommy I can't watch this."

"Watch what?"
I asked.

And with a wrinkled little face full of disgust, he turns and says,
"I can't watch this 'GIRL' music!"

Yes it's true. He may LOVE music, but LeAnn Rimes... not so much.

I guess she's just not tough enough. Man, do they start young. Can you believe it?!! Just 3yrs old and already picking sides. His daddy will be proud.

One things for sure...
Boys will be Boys

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GOT THE GIGGLES?
CHECK OUT MORE FRIDAY FUNNIES @ HOMESTEADERS HEART

Under the Boardwalk

2009-10-14T10:36:00.004-04:00

Our Myrtle Beach Vacation
October 2009

Excitement's in the Air!

2009-10-13T11:22:00.006-04:00

Our time at Myrtle Beach was filled with lots of excitement. As soon as we were able to get settled into our little home away from home, we went for an afternoon stroll along the beach. Mason was so EXCITED, his little face just lit up with joy! Along the way, we discovered a little abandoned sand castle sitting all by it's lonesome. Mason couldn't wait to build his very own.

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I Heart Faces is a photography contest in which beginners, amateurs and pros can enter their favorite photos. Each week brings a new theme and lots of great photos!

Going to the Chapel

2009-09-28T14:34:00.031-04:00

Last weekend family and friends gathered in Piegon Forge, TN to celebrate the wedding of my sister, Josette and my new brother-in-law, Robbie. We stayed in a beautiful log cabin over looking the Great Smokey Mountains. It was absolutely breathe-taking. Waiting on top of our luxurious beds was a lovely gift of toiletries, along with a picture framed photo, a bag of goodies for the kids and a sweet thank you card. I should have been the one thanking them because the cabin was so beautiful! Each floor had a wrap around porch, a hot tub, and endless ammenities . We stayed on the third floor which was all about fun and games with a pool table, air hockey, foosball, and a tv perfect for some Guitar Hero action.

The fun didn't end there! We even had a theater room to enjoy and an elevator to take us back and forth! The place was pretty amazing! I now know why they call it, It Has It All. It truly did have it all. As I was making my rounds checking the place out, I stumbled upon something totally unexpected and very scary - A BLACK BEAR! I was on the ground level enjoying the view when I saw something moving underneath the deck of the neighboring house.

I literally did a double take. I thought to myself, "Am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?!!!" YES I WAS!!! I couldn't believe my eyes! It started getting a little closer and closer. Knowing that the deck I was standing on was just a few steps away from a possible bear invasion, I RAN as fast as I could to higher ground, screaming and hollering "A BEAR! A BEAR!". No one believed me until they took a look for themselves. By that time it was fading away into the wilderness. If ever I wished I had a camera, it would have been that exact moment I encountered a bear and lived to tell about it. Just think what could have happened if that bear would have taken a detour towards our cabin. It's certainly a memory I will always remember. Luckily for everyone, the men decided to go on a charcoal run at the time and were not in the middle of grilling when the bear came along. It surely would have come straight towards them. Fortunately, the bear never returned and the men were able to fire up the grill without any WILD interruptions. It was smooth sailing the rest of the evening. We ate. We played. And we relaxed, or at least I tried to relax, in the hot tub. My sister Annette convinced me that it would be totally safe to let our little guys try it out. Honestly, I was so worried and tensed about Mason being in there that I did more stressing than relaxing. But, just like she said, he survived. Morning came and we had a BIG day ahead of us. We were finally going to the chapel. First, we had to make lots of preparations. Of course, I brought along the cake for the great occasion. Thankfully, it made the 3 hr. trip safe and sound. All that was left to do was to stack the tiers and put some final finishing touches and VIOLA, a little bit of batter and icing turned into a wedding cake.

I was so honored that they included me in such a special part of the preparations. Then, as things got marked off the list, we all headed to our rooms and g0t all guzzied up, the women in little black dresses and the men in suits and ties.

But no one looked as beautiful nor more handsome than the bride and groom. They were a site for sore eyes. Off to the chapel we went.

It was a beautiful ceremony followed by a reception at the cabin.

The caterers set out a feast for our eyes.

I know things didn't turn out exactly how my sister had hoped for because of complications, but I hope it gives her comfort to know that as the years go by, those complications seem to fade away and what you will always remember is that moment when the two of you say "I Do".

Congratulations
Josette & Robbie!

Always remember to hold on to the love and respect you share today and you will truly live happily ever after.

Love you both!

A SUPER-SIZED Library Visit

2009-09-16T23:38:00.012-04:00

Look who came
STROLLING
into the library.

The McMan himself.
Of course, the kids got a BIG kick out of it!

They crowded around him and listened with their mouths wide open as he told stories and clowned around.

Mason always looks forward to our weekly trip to the library. I'm so grateful to the library for creating such a wonderful environment for children to learn. It's become part of our routine, always starting or ending with a trip to Chick-A-Donald's, as he likes to call it.

2009-09-16T12:36:00.004-04:00

Let the Good Times Roll

2009-09-10T12:29:00.006-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, there was cause for celebration. My sister Josette is getting married in a few weeks and everybody knows that a bride is not just a bride. She's also a bachelorette. So, of course, we had to let the good times roll. I was so excited. It's not often I get to enjoy a date night with my hubby. The party began at her house with a delicious Peruvian dinner and cocktails with our guys. But no bachelor/bachelorette party would be complete without a night out on the town. So, when the clock struck 9, we loaded into our chariot, a 25 ft. party bus, and the party continued.

(In the pic. from left to right: Me and my sisters: Josette, Annette, and Scarlett)

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Most moms have an obsession of photographing their families that they rarely are ever seen coming out from behind the camera. That's why Carin @ Forever in Blue Jeans created a new challenge for all blogging mamas. It's called 52 Weeks. Every week moms will be stepping away from their cameras and sharing the spotlights with their loved ones. Looking through my photos, I discovered that it's so true. I'm missing in action in most of the shots. And really it doesn't bother me one bit. Well......maybe just a little. I would have to say that when I look at pictures of me growing up, my favorites aren't the ones of me alone. They're the ones that capture me with my family, especially my parents. So, I'm excepting the challenge.

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Little Tropper Conquers First SMILEstone

2009-09-03T00:14:00.017-04:00

September 1st was a big day for us. Our little guy had his first visit with the dentist. Of course, the camera had to come along with us. Taking the camera may sound a little silly, but I believe in capturing every single BIG moment and this certainly qualified.

I had been prepping him for this day a while now, and I was so impressed with the turnout! I didn't want there to be any unexpected surprises so I made sure he understood that it was now his turn to sit in the big chair. As we sat in the waiting area, we were surrounded by cries of other children clinging to their mothers. All the while, the little guy was as cool as a cucumber, never showing any fears.

When his name was called, we were escorted to the children's wing. The room was stocked with everything imaginable to calm little nerves. He sat down in a Spiderman chair and began to read some books.
Meanwhile, I sat nervously wondering if the cucumber would loose his cool. I was curious how the dentist would interact with him. Was he going to be fun and playful or stern and unpleasant. I wasn't too impressed with the nurse. She just didn't seem like she liked her job at all. Not once did I see her crack a smile. Shouldn't that be part of the criteria when working with children?

She began asking questions. "How much juice and milk does he drink?" "Do y'all have well water?" "How often does he brush his teeth and floss?" Floss?!! Was she serious? Brushing his teeth is hard enough. It's more like pulling teeth than brushing them. Flossing a 3 yr. old's teeth just seems impossible, but a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do.

Then the moment came to finally meet Dr. Dan. He kept things pretty neutral. He was a no nonsense kind of guy, but in a friendly kind of way.

The little guy laid in his daddy's lap and said AAAAAAA. I was so proud of him! It was as if he had done this before. His teeth got brushed and pricked, but I never saw him flinch once. Dr. Dan wiped his teeth and that was that.

Why he didn't let him rinse with water was beyond me. The poor little thing couldn't stand the taste left in his mouth and he was literally foaming at the mouth by the time it was all over.

Nevertheless, he was a little trooper through it all. I told him that he did such a great job that they were giving him a goody bag to take home. Little did he know that it was all part of the plan. Inside the bag was a Diego toothbrush, Spongebob toothpaste and, of course, floss.

Unfortunately, Dr. Dan discovered a tiny little cavity, so we will be returning sooner than we were hoping. Hopefully, the second time around will be as good as the first, minus the cavity. Believe it or not, when we got home, the little guy was already wanting to floss. Maybe it won't be so bad after all.

A Word from a Butting Toddler

2009-08-27T01:48:00.003-04:00

I don't know what has gotten into my little guy lately, but all I hear come out of his mouth these days is the word "BUTT". I have no clue where he got that from. I always refer to it as a "BOTTOM". His word of choice could've been A LOT worse. I guess I do prefer this four-letter word over the three-letter word. That's definitely a plus! Gotta look at the bright side, right?! Apparently it's a fun word to just blurt out at random. He'll say, "Mommy, I want a snack (BUTT)." Or "Mommy, play cars with me (BUTT)." A little butt here and a little butt there, everywhere nothing but a butt butt. Then he's giggling like nothing could be funnier. I just don't get it. I guess that's just the mind of a toddler.

Moving SO Fast

2009-07-31T09:19:00.007-04:00

I can't believe it! Things have been moving so fast. We already have a buyer for our home. The house basically sold HOURS after the Realtor snapped the photos for the virtual tour. She called me a couple of hours after leaving that day to say that there were some people interested in a showing. It happened so early in the game that we didn't even have a lock box yet. We couldn't go too far. So, we went on a neighborhood stroll to see the lake.

I'm gonna miss seeing the lake and hearing the boats go by. I can hear one right now zooming down the water. The lake is so close that we can ALMOST taste it. Unfortunately, the trees leave nothing but the sound of it for us to enjoy. But nevertheless, I'm gonna miss it. As we waited and waited for the showing to end, we also got to eat some wild blackberries growing along the way. The little guy couldn't get enough of them. We continued waiting for the coast to clear. Apparently, things were going well with the showing. It felt strange to have strangers in our home. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall. What did they think? What were they saying? The lady must have fallen in love with her just like I did 5 years ago, because the very next day there was an offer. We went back and forth with counter offer after counter offer. Meanwhile, another showing was underway for the following day. So while the lookers looked, the little guy and I steered clear. It was another great showing with an even better offer. But it came in a little too late. It was already taken by the first group. We couldn't believe how well things were going. This week, the inspectors came. The termite inspector gave us a thumbs up, but the home inspector felt we needed a little project to do - replacing the water heater. It was time for a new one. Off to Lowes we went. After this little project is completed, it looks like this will be a done deal. Our little house is slipping away from us. We now have a buyer lined up to take her away. We'll be closing August 14th! I know I have to keep thinking about the great home that is to come. The anticipation is building, as is the EXCITEMENT!!

Home Is Where The Heart Is

2009-07-23T07:43:00.000-04:00

We finally did it! We put our house on the market and the ball has started rolling and rolling pretty fast, I must add. We had our first showing last night and we don't even have a sign up yet! Time is not wasting, that's for sure. This is something we've been thinking about doing for a while now. I'm filled with all sorts of mixed emotions. Sad, because I've REALLY fallen in love with our home. From the first moment I saw it, it felt like home to me.

We've put a lot of TLC into her, inside and out.

We painted all the rooms (except our spare room), added a new faucet and back splash in the kitchen, hung a built-in ironing board (IT'S AWESOME!), replaced lighting fixtures, and the list goes on and on. As you can see from the before shots, the curb appeal was in dire need of some TLC as well. Nothing was in it's rightful place. Trees was sporadically placed throughout the yard. The grass was neglected. The deck had been neglected. It's as if the outdoor living area wasn't living AT ALL!

The truth of the matter is that the house had been neglected for about a year before we came along and rescued her. I knew she had potential for GREATNESS! She has been our home for the last 5 years. If the walls could talk, they would tell you about the day I told my husband he was going to be a daddy and about the day we brought our little boy HOME. This was our first REAL HOME as a couple and as a family. So many memories were made here, but when the day comes for us to pack up all our belongings into cardboard boxes, we'll pack those memories into our hearts. Yes, I'm feeling a little sad, but it's like they say. HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS!

I'm certain that the move will be a step up for us. We are so fortunate to be given this awesome opportunity to build our VERY OWN HOME. For this I'm so happy and excited! We love our current home so much that we want to build something quite similar to it, just a little bigger with a basement and a bonus room. Ahhhhh.....BONUS ROOM. Music to my ears. No more toys spewing from the little guy's room. They'll all be contained in the MARVELOUS, MAGNIFICANT BONUS ROOM. Well, that's the plan. Oh, and the word BASEMENT. You hear those violins playing again too? You don't know how much having a basement means until you've lived you WHOLE life without one and you hear of a tornado in the area. Our new home will finally give my family shelter from a potentially deadly storm.

I'm so grateful to our family for their help and support. This would have ONLY been a dream in our distant future if it wasn't for the generous heart of our little guy's GREAT grandmother, Nene. She is graciously giving us the land to build our dream upon. Thank you so much Nene. We love you!

Written July 16, 2009

7 Bloggy Ladies & 1 Great Night!

2009-07-09T08:43:00.033-04:00

Last week, I had the opportunity to do something totally out of my character. I joined 6 bloggy ladies for dinner at the Streets of Southpoint Mall in Durham. Why was this totally out of character for me, you say? Well, if you know me personally, you know that I'm a pretty shy gal. I don't usually let my guard down in the presence of strangers. But these ladies weren't strangers to me, even though it was our first time meeting. In a way, I felt like I was meeting up with my pals. I had gotten to know most of them in a personal sort of way by reading their blogs. And I could tell that it was going to be a blessing meeting them. From left to right, the bunch included Mimi, C.C, Liz, Mel, Tara, Me & Beth.

I hit the road for 2 1/2 hrs to reach our destination and meet them. I had never been to the Streets of Southpoint. It was such a treat to visit somewhere new.

There were the most amazing water fountains of children throughout the shops.

Beth suggested we eat at Firebirds. It was a great choice! The food was delicious and the staff was such a delight. The waitress at a neighboring table was kind enough to snap our photos. She didn't have a clue of what she was getting herself into. We all brought our cameras. Yes, 8 cameras, sitting and waiting. Mimi and Liz brought their fancy shamancy cameras. The flashes lit up the whole restaurant. You'd think there were famous movie stars in the place.

She showed up with these beautiful little crosses for us all to remember our special outing.

AMEN!

It was the neatest little thing! I had never heard of a blog book. It's made by a company called SharedBook. I've got something new to add to my most wanted list. I can just imagine myself sitting in my rocking chair with a head full of gray hairs sharing my blog book with a room full of grand kids.

I was so excited to meet Mimi, one of my partners in crime at Five Moms and a Blog.

It was well worth the 5 hr. drive. I had so much fun with these ladies. I hope we meet again!

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God Bless the USA!

2009-07-08T13:30:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone had a great time celebrating the 4th of July. We celebrated by watching a good ole game of baseball and rooting for our hometown team, the Hickory Crawdads. Sadly, their opponents, the Hagerstown Suns, were left without a win to celebrate. But nevertheless, it was still the 4th of July and that in itself is still cause for a celebration. We had so much fun! Patriotism was in the air.

The Day Bob The Tomato Came to Play

2009-06-29T23:49:00.005-04:00

Some of you may remember this pic of me and my little nephew from a while back. It was my I Heart Faces entry for the self-portrait challenge. I didn't win, but I did get a lot of sweet compliments from some of you about my bright red lipstick. Flashy, I know. That's why I don't use it very often. But something really bad happened the other day that would put an end to it once and for all. It some how made its' way into the hands of a three year old. Of course, the one minute I turn my back to relief my bladder, is the one minute he reaches into my purse and decides to go to town with my fire engine red lipstick. And let me tell ya, that little red fire engine goes a LOOOONG way. I walked out of the bathroom to find Bob The Tomato starring back at me. Yup, he was red from head to toe and all in between. What had happened to my little fair skinned guy? I knew there had to be more flashes of red somewhere. So I went on the hunt, but I didn't have to go too far. As I made my way into my bedroom, my jaw dropped to the floor.

Not the comforter......!!!

YES....THE COMFORTER!!!!

Have I told y'all lately how much I LOVE Shout?!!! Never in million years did I think my lip staining lipstick would ever make it's way out of this mess. I thought my NEW comforter was on it's way out the door along with the empty tube of lipstick.

I haven't seem Bob The Tomato since that dreadful day. Hopefully, that was his first and FINAL appearance.

WARNING: make sure you keep your purses up high and out of reach of little aspiring tomatoes.

I know. Y'all are wondering, "Where are the pictures." Well, the thought did cross my bloggy head. Believe me. But I decided I'd better get busy fighting The Tomato stains and leave the camera alone for once. After all, I had a BIG job ahead of me. I now do regret not picking up the camera, but nevertheless, this is an image that will never be forgotten.

Got a true story you wanna share? Visit Rachel @ Once Upon A Miracle and link up for True Story Tuesdays.

My One and Only

2009-06-26T14:08:00.008-04:00

This is me and my Mami on the beach in Costa Rica. I treasure this photo like gold. Finding it was like looking for a needle in a hay stack. It's the ONLY photo I have of me as a little baby. I'm not sure what happened to the rest. Maybe being the fourth girl to come along, the photos began to diminish. Maybe there were photos of plenty and they were just simply lost in the shuffle of moving to another country. If I were to ever lose this photo, I would be completely heart broken. Now that I'm a mommy, I wanna make sure that there's plenty of photos of my children. So far, I'm doing pretty well snapping photos of my little guy. Let's just wait and see how it goes if ever I were to have a fourth. (Did I just say a fourth? What am I thinking!)

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It's time to pull out your scanner and your pre-digital photos and start reminising of times gone by. Then head on over to Alicia's blog, More Than Words, to share them with the world.

I Blew It!

2009-06-25T03:20:00.010-04:00

When you're a stay-at-home mom, you have the luxury of setting your own pace. No bosses to seek for approval. No schedules to follow. No agendas to adhere to. (Well, for the most part.) Yesterday was one of those days that we could do as we pleased. So, what did I do? I blew it! It's true. Find out how @ Five Moms and a Blog.

Every breath I took was for the sake of this little guy's happiness.

It was worth every huff and puff!

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Today I Celebrate Pillars of Strength

2009-06-21T01:30:00.011-04:00

Today, as I celebrate my father, I think of all the ways he has shown his love for my sisters and I. For years, my Papi lived constantly surrounded by girly commotions. All the while, we hardly ever heard a mean peep out of him. Sense of humor was never lacking in our home. His laughter has always been a constant, as was ours. Sing-alongs were tweaked in exchange for a giggle and funny faces stood frozen for a moment in time. Family togetherness was a key component in our everyday life. When I was 2yrs old, my Mami was encouraged by her doctors to travel to the United States to seek better care for her deteriorating eye-sight. Without hesitation, my father gave up his career as a chemist in Costa Rica in order to keep the family intact. The States became our adopted home and times got tough. But, my Papi took the difficulties with stride and continues to do so. No words can express how proud I am of him. To think of all the sacrifices he has made for our family and to do it with nothing but love in his heart. He is a remarkable man and one that I'm privileged to call my Papi.

Today, as I celebrate my husband, I think of the blessing he is to my little guy and myself. God blessed us with a man who is totally dedicated to our family, giving us his all each and everyday. The day our little guy was born, a proud daddy was born as well. With tears of joy, his love for him was immediately evident. I always knew he was a great man, but to see his greatness blossom into fatherhood makes my love for him even stronger. He works hard so that I'm able to stay-at-home. Never has he complained about my not working (outside of the home). He understands that being a stay-at-home mom is not an easy task. It's an amazing feeling to know that my hard-work is being validated. I see in him the happy spirit of my Papi. For the sake of the little guy's laughter, he'll pull up his pants in an old man's fashion and talk as if he hasn't got one tooth left. There's nothing like seeing the child in a man, coming out to play with his children. In him, I see the reflection of two great fathers, mine and his.

Today, as I celebrate my Father-in-law, Jerry, I'm filled with gratitude, thanking him for molding my husband into the wonderful man and father he is today. Greatness is not something you can learn in a day or two. It takes a lifetime of teachings to nurture a great soul. He led by example teaching his boys how to lead a respectful and honorable life. It shows in the way my husband takes care of his family. It shows in the way my husband speaks to me. It shows in the way my husband smiles. All the greatness I see in my Father-in-law, I see in my husband.

Today, as I celebrate these three great men, I'm reminded of how fortunate my little guy is, as am I, to have such pillars of strength in our lives. I thank God for the gift of these men. What a blessing it would be to see my little guy follow in their footsteps.

Daddy's Girls

2009-06-18T09:52:00.006-04:00

In honor of Father's Day, I thought I'd share a photo of my sisters and I with our Papi on his birthday in March. (I'm the second to the right.) Yes, this poor sweet man had a house full of girls with no boys insight (well, boys of his own). Now the tables have turned and he has grandsons here and grandsons there with only one little granddaughter insight plus one more on the way whose gender remains to be unknown. (And nope, it's not baking in my oven, if you know what I mean.) Hopefully, I'll be able to add another little girl into the mix someday. I would love to see my husband have a special bond with a little girl just as we have with our Papi. There's nothing like being a Daddy's girl.

It's Thursday again!
Please join me at Five Moms and a Blog for something nifty.

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Creepy Crawly In My Shower

2009-06-16T08:30:00.004-04:00

Today I was visiting my friend Mimi and reading her True Story post. She had found a creepy crawly in the shower with her and to top it off, she was pregnant! Can you imagine finding a bug in the shower with you and having limited vision due to a BIG, PREGNANT BELLY?!!!!

Her story reminded me of a time when I found something taking a shower with me. I was just minding my own showering business when I look down and saw a LIZARD! It was just sitting there looking straight up at me with it's itty bitty eyes. There wasn't much I could do. I was right in the middle of my showering, with shampoo in my hair. I didn't want to spray water on him and cause him to run around in a frenzy. And there was NO way I was gonna stomp on him. EEEUUU!!! That would have been GROSS!!! All I could do was finish my shower. It seemed like the LONGEST, most CAUTIOUS shower I had ever taken. I felt so violated. But, to be honest, he seemed more scared of this 5ft tall giant than I was of him. Poor little guy. I started to get attached to him, but only for a moment. I finished my shower and OUT I WENT.

I thought about scooping him up with a newspaper, but then I got discouraged thinking he would panic and get loose in the house. So rescue had to wait until help arrived from work. When my husband finally made it home, I told him about the peeping lizard waiting to be rescued. He marched into the bathroom only to find nothing. The lizard was gone. "OH GOOD," I said. "He must have went right out from where he came."

A few days later, my husband was sweeping the bathroom and lo and behold, who did he discover under the shower mat? Yup, the little lizard. He had tried to make his escape and never made it out alive. Poor little lizard. :0(

Got a true story you wanna share? Visit Rachel @ Once Upon A Miracle and link up for True Story Tuesdays.

2009-06-15T14:36:00.004-04:00

This week I Heart Faces wants us to set the sepia tone to our photos. This is my pic for this week's contest. It was taken last year while on a trip to Carolina Beach and it's one of my all time favorites of my little guy.

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I Heart Faces is a photography contest in which beginners, amateurs and pros can enter their favorite photos. Each week brings a new theme and lots of great photos!

This week's theme: Sepia Toned

Here is a list of up coming themes:

June 22nd - Let's Hear It For The Boys!
June 29th - Wedding Bells
July 6th - My Story In Photos: Patriotic Edition
July 13th - Sports In Action {There is also a special "Pets" category}
July 20th - Feet {We'll be focusing on "feet"...not "faces". Gasp!}
July 27th - On The Beach

Click here to enter your favorite faces.

Natural Imperfections

2009-06-13T21:14:00.006-04:00

Now that the warm weather is here, I've been taking full advantage of it and unfortunately, Scenic Sundays have taken a back seat (defeating the whole purpose of it). The purpose of Scenic Sundays was so that we would all take time out of our busy lives and stop and smell the roses. And while we're at it, show our appreciation by taking a picture of the beauty that God has placed before us. Well, looks like I let life get in the way. But, so be it! God wants us to enjoy life with our families and that's what I've been trying to do. But now that summer's here, it's the perfect time to jump back on the Scenic Sunday wagon.

In continuation of my Scenic Sundays, I've decided to share with y'all a photo of my favorite flower- the hydrangea. I first fell in love with them when we lived in our former home. Their blossoms were so big and bountiful that I became intrigued. Even with their imperfections, I would prefer them over the most perfect rose, reminding me of my love for my family. Although, they have their imperfections, I would not trade them for the world.

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Sometimes we are so busy with everyday life that we forget to appreciate the beauty that God has placed before us. Scenic Sundays are about stopping and smelling the roses. And while you're smelling those roses, take a picture so that others can share in your appreciation for the beauty of His creation. So pretty please come join us for Scenic Sundays. Maybe we'll see things in a different light.

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Please feel free to join me any day.
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For more Godly inspirations visit Spiritual Sundays.
For more beautiful scenery visit this other Scenic Sunday site.

2009-06-11T04:00:00.001-04:00

IF

YOU

HAVE

NOT

VISITED

FIVE MOMS AND A BLOG

TODAY,

PLEASE

DO

SO

BEFORE

CONTINUING

AND CLICK HERE.

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NAAAHHH AHHHH AHHHHHH........NO PEEKING!
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Now on to the evidence, if you will.

EXHIBIT #1:

The No-It-All is real and his all no-ing behavior starts at a very early age. This sighting was captured in December of 2006. If you have NOT yet experienced the wrath of the No-It-All, PLEASE BEWARE!! It can be brutal!!

May I Have This Dollar Dance

2009-06-10T09:31:00.007-04:00

Last week, my husband and I celebrated our 8th Anniversary. I honestly don't know how I got so lucky. He is the Prince Charming every little girl dreams of marrying.

As some of you may already know, I am originally from Costa Rica and it's tradition in the Latin culture to do a little number called The Dollar Dance on your wedding day. All the guest must pay the price of $1 (or more) to have their dance with the newlywed couple. A lovely idea, if I must say!! So, one by one, family and friends pinned the little heads of the presidents and we danced the song away. When the music ended, we were drenched with the generosity of our lovely guests.

That's O.K. What's mine is his and what's his is still mine.
(hehehehehehe)

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Got a picture worth 1,000 words? Then visit Angie @ the 7 Clown Circus for
Wordful Wednesday.

2009-06-04T08:34:00.006-04:00

I just love how discovery brightens
his little face.

BTW...It's another Manic ~~Monday~~ Thursday at the
Five Moms and a Blog.
Won't you join me?

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King for a Day {again}

2009-06-01T12:27:00.008-04:00

After going MIA for two weeks in the I Heart Faces contest, I'm jumping back in and giving it another go. This week they're celebrating birthdays. And as you probably already know, two weekends ago, we celebrated one of our own. Somebody around here turned 3 and it looks like that little someone wanted to continue his birthday celebration again this past Saturday and be King for a day. Although the crown says IT'S MY BIRTHDAY, we were actually at a local family fun center celebrating the birthday of one of our little friends. But hey, who said the party had to end, right?! So, my little King hopped onto this inflatable thrown and relished in the birthday glory one more time before heading back to the castle. Sorry to say, your Majesty, but the party's over. Until next year.........

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Got a great birthday pic to share? Join the celebration at I Heart Faces!

2009-05-28T04:00:00.003-04:00

GO MASON GO!

On May 23, 2009, while many were celebrating Memorial Day Weekend, we celebrated our little guy's 3rd birthday.

It was Mason's first destination birthday party and
BOY was it a WILD one!

For months he's been telling me he wanted a Diego birthday. And, what better place to have it than the Catawba Science Center. There, we discovered countless fun experiments and encountered animals of all sorts. Mason was treated to a private birthday party with his very own animal show N tell and a shark feeding too.Mason had such a great time! So glad everyone joined us in the fun!

WEIRD SCIENCE

WILD CRITTERS

AND SHARKS...OH MY!

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY, SWEETIE!
{KISSES & SQUEEZES}
Mommy & Daddy

Some WACKY WILD Stuff is going on @ Five Moms and a Blog today.
Make sure you check it out!

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Most moms have an obsession of photographing their families that they rarely are ever seen coming out from behind the camera. That's why Carin @ Forever in Blue Jeans created a new challenge for all blogging mamas. It's called 52 Weeks. Every week moms will be stepping away from their cameras and sharing the spotlights with their loved ones. Looking through my photos, I discovered that it's so true. I'm missing in action in most of the shots. And really it doesn't bother me one bit. Well......maybe just a little. I would have to say that when I look at pictures of me growing up, my favorites aren't the ones of me alone. They're the ones that capture me with my family, especially my parents. So, I'm excepting the challenge.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-27T07:18:00.005-04:00

My Trip to Hollywood!!

2009-05-20T18:07:00.015-04:00

These photos were taken September of 2008 while on our trip to Wilmington, NC (known as the Hollywood of the East). Wilmington is a great place to visit for many reasons, one of which is that One Tree Hill is filmed there. It's one of my favorite t.v. obsessions. We got to visit many of the locations seen on the show. (Click on the links to see the stars in action.)

Here's me checking out the Clothes Over Bros. Boutique. Unfortunately, Brooke had to close shop for the day.

Where have all the stars gone?

Although I didn't get a glimpse of any cast members, I did get a glimpse of some of the starring manikins.

Wanna see for yourself?

This is where all the magic happens.

Notice the filming equipment lying on the floor? Pretty cool, huh.

While visiting the USS North Carolina Battleship, we stumbled upon this. This basketball court is a popular spot for the kids of Tree Hill.

This shot was taken in a quaint little courtyard located in between the street lined boutiques and The Cotton Exchange. Can you tell who was on a sugar rush after eating some ice cream? This was the very first photo I posted for the debut of Pieces of Me back in October. Boy, how time flies.

Speaking of debuts, don't forget to check out my debut at Five Moms and a Blog today. Hope y'all enjoy it!

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2009-05-20T07:46:00.007-04:00

Six
unimportant
Things That Make Me Happy
and One
IMPORTANT
Thing That Says I'm Lovely
(she said it not me)

First the unimportant stuff...

1. {I LOVE going to a wonderful place called Hobby Lobby}
This place has it all and every time I walk-in, I wanna take it ALL with me. But of course I can't. Speaking of hobbies...

2. {I LOVE being creative}
I've tried them all. Cake decorating, knitting, jewelry-making, modeling clay, scrapbooking and the list goes on and on. My newest thing on that list is soap-making. Don't you just love those fancy shamancy soaps you see in those fancy shamancy boutiques? I do too and my husband is absolutely obsessed with them. So, I thought for Mother's Day I'd make something for my Mamie and sisters that came from my heart, CHAMOMILE SOAPS. They ended up looking cuter than they smelled. Although, I must say they did make great exfoliators. Speaking of exfoliators......

3. {I LOVE a good o' exfoliator}
The only time getting all scratched up is a good thing is when you've got a good o' exfoliator in your hand. Speaking of hands.....

4. {I LOVE holding them}
Not ALL of them, of course, just my Husband's and my little guy's. The reality is that they don't love holding mine. : ( Which brings me to my next thing.

5. {I LOVE a good o' reality show}
Big Brother, American Idol, The Biggest Loser, this list goes on and on too. And lastly but certainly not ~~list~~ least....

6. {I LOVE making lists}
Thanks Tamela! I'm always up for a good game of tag your ~~list~~ it.

Speaking of LOVE.......

My friend, Tamela, was even so sweet as to give me this Lovely Blog Award.
(Doesn't that make ME lovely too by association?)
She's one lovely brunette making it one day at a time.

And now, on to the rules:

1. Add the logo to your blog;
2. Link to the person from whom you received this award;
3. Nominate 7 or more blogs; and
4. Leave a message on their blog, letting them know they have One Lovely Blog!

And this Lovely Award goes to...

Tam @ A Brunette Making it One Day at a Time
Mimi @ He & Me + 3
Tarah @ Eyeglasses & Endzones
Erica @ Scottsville
Nan @ Mom's the Word
JennyKate @ JennyKate's Spot
Kim @ Homesteader's Heart

Congratulations ladies for having such lovely blogs!

I Heart Faces Blurb Book

2009-05-19T08:20:00.001-04:00

Lying in a shady tent, camped out on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, is my little guy. With chubby little cheeks, his Daddy's beautiful blue eyes, and skin made of porcelain, this is a face that I'll never grow tried of looking at. This photo was taken almost 3 years ago and although he is growing up and his baby face has faded away, I'm still left mesmerized by it. I may be a little bias, but I think this would be a perfect addition to the I Heart Faces Blurb Book. Don't you think?

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I am submitting this photo into the www.iheartfaces.com Blurb Book photo contest. I am granting I ♥ Faces permission to use my photo in a printed version of a book for commercial use and possibly advertising of a photo book on both the Blurb and I ♥ Faces web sites.

Five Moms and a Blog GRAND OPENING!

2009-05-18T10:49:00.005-04:00

It's a BIG week for me and 4 of my bloggy friends. It's the GRAND opening of our spankin' new blog, Five Moms and a Blog. This is a blog with 5 x's the fun, 5 x's the laughter, and 5 x's the charm. So, don't miss out cause we've only just begun.

{The Five Moms can also be found on their personal blogs}
Scottsville
Mom's the Word
Pieces of Me
He & Me + 3
Eyeglasses & Endzones

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

2009-05-17T08:04:00.006-04:00

Today's scenery is of this beautiful sandy beach in Costa Rica. It's another photo that was taken by my sister a few years ago. I've lived in the states for 28 years now and although I love being here, there's still a piece of me that misses my beautiful homeland. Is it possible to miss something you don't even remember? My memories of Costa Rica are very vague. All I have to reflect on are the stories told by my family and the photos they have taken. Hopefully, one day I'll have my own stories and photos to share. Regardless if I ever get to see it with my own eyes again, Costa Rica will ALWAYS be my home away from home. I thank God for making it a piece of me.

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Please feel free to join me any day.
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For more Godly inspirations visit Spiritual Sundays.
For more beautiful scenery visit this other Scenic Sunday site.

EXTRA! EXTRA!

2009-05-16T06:52:00.006-04:00

READ ALL ABOUT IT!
There's a new blog in town and it's time to SHOUT it!

So, lend us your ears, bodies, minds & souls
Cause this is a blog that won't get dull!