Pray For Hadly...

Meet the Whitaker family. We were lucky enough to have met them when we made the move to Anson 4 years ago. They are a family that is near and dear to our hearts. Hadly is 10 and in the 5Th grade. Late last week she began to have problems controlling the right side of her body. Her speech is still in tact and she can function however "something" just wasn't right. Hadly underwent a CAT scan and several MRI's and the doctors found a mass/lump located in the back of her neck, positioned on several of her vertebrae. She will be going to Cooks for surgery on Tuesday and the doctors believe she has destruction of the bone in at least 4 vertebra that is visible. She could have rods, pins or a bone fusion, all of which are uncertain at this time until the surgery actually takes place. The Whitaker family has asked specifically for prayers that the mass is just a cyst and not a tumor and that there are no damaged nerves involved because of its existence. Please pray for the surgeon Dr. Richard Roberts and his "A TEAM" staff as they take sweet Hadly into their care and please pray for the continued strength of her mother (Jeannifer) and her daddy (Donald) and little brother (Wyatt). A lump wells up in the back of my throat as I write about this sweet girl and what she is going thru. She is a child, and children should never have to face this kind of uncertainty, but God's mighty power is awesome and I know He can and will heal this child. I ask anyone who reads this post to please lift this precious family up in prayer.

Hadly, Wyatt, Jeannifer and Donald Whitaker

Sweet Hadly

Hadly and little brother Wyatt

Injured on the Job...

My poor baby...here she is being a good girl...doing her chores...then all of a sudden she is stricken with a minor head injury.

Thankfully no one else was injured during the making of this video. I am however sad to report that there were no more happy faces and no more chores being done after this incident.

My First "NO" Money Bulletin Board...

So most of you know (if you know me) that I am currently going to school to finish my degree in Elementary Education. Well up until now, the classes have been a little bit drab and boring...but now I am getting to the good stuff...a.k.a...crafty stuff! Woo Hoo! One of my first projects was to create a student centered/hands on/interactive bulletin board for under 5 dollars. The background paper and border were free of charge because I found them at the school...and the teacher said we could use them. Since 5 dollars is like...nothing...in today's world, I had to get crafty. Here is what I came up with...and I have a few finishing touches I need to add. The whole board besides the letters and the tiny foam bees was made from paper of some sort...and it was all FREE. Since I got the background and it was yellow, I decided to pair it with the black lettering that I already had at home....and I instantly thought about bumble bees. Hmm...bumble bees and time...how bout "We're Buzzing About Time?" Sounds clever enough to me. Then in terms of "hands-on" and "interactive" I felt like math would be the easiest subject matter (btw...subject matter and grade were completely up to me)! Then I thought...bees like to swarm around flowers...hmm...how bout flowers that have little clocks in the middle of them that are laminated. Why laminated you ask? Because I attached the clock faces without any hands...and that is where the student "hands-on" part comes in. The student will draw a pre-determined time card out of the envelope and he/she is responsible for drawing the little hand and the big hand in the appropriate position to reflect the correct time. Dry erase markers will work perfectly and the teacher can use a different time for every single student...then erase and start all over. The teacher could also change this up by providing the times on the clock faces with the big and little hands asking the student write the correct time on laminated time cards. I thought this was a cute idea because its bright, colorful, cheap and concrete. If I have learned anything from going back to school its that kids are "concrete" learners...let them touch it, move it, smell it and really get into whatever you are teaching and they will REMEMBER it. So...here it is!

I will keep you posted about the grade I get...unless of course its not a good one...so wish me luck!

*Edit* I got an ~A~ on my bulletin board...my teacher liked the concept...Yeah

Another Weekend has Come and Gone...

What a great weekend we had! It kicked off on Friday night, and even though Andy's team didn't win, it sure was fun to sit in the stands with Jolea and watch her "take-it-all-in!" She had a long fun day on Friday and by the time we got home late Friday night after the game, she was pooped out and ready for bed. Saturday we spent the day at Grammy and Poppy's house while Andy was at work. I mowed their yard for extra money while Jolea played her little heart out...she was a little bit grumpy on Saturday due to her lack of sleep and busy day on Friday. I went to Hobby Lobby to pick up our family portrait that I decided to have framed. The sad thing is, the picture was taken almost a year ago on Jolea's first birthday and I am just now getting around to framing it. Our photographer is awesome...and her prints are so reasonably priced, but getting something custom matted and framed is an expensive project. So from now on I will only buy my picture just big enough so I can do all the work myself. My sweet hubby found the time to hang it for me this weekend and I LOVE how it turned out. There were also a couple of birthdays in the family this weekend. Happy Birthday to Trey (my brother turning the big 21) and Happy Birthday to Erin (Andy's sister)! When Andy and I first met we thought it was fate that our siblings had the same birthday. Even weirder is that Andy's sisters name is Erin and my brothers name is Trey Aaron...strange huh? Anyway...Happy Birthday you two...we hope you had a great time on your "Special" day.

Hobby Lobby Frame I chose

Trey with his girlfriend Stephanie at Outback for dinner

My Mom and I were on nursery duty at church...we had a blast taking care of all those babies...and I got to change 2 poopy diapers while I was there...not sure how that happened because I sure don't remember being the elected "poopy diaper changer" but if you have changed one you have changed a million right? My parents came over for lunch and we had my chicken enchiladas for lunch. It's my mothers recipe, so I knew it would turn out to be pretty good...and it really was. When it comes to cooking...I am still a rookie. I try really hard to be creative and make things that taste good, but I am still learning! If anyone has any weeknight meals that I must make...please send them over. I am always looking for things that are quick and easy and delicious.

Andy and Jolea and I were all sitting at home last night kinda bored and we decided to we would go to PrimeTime for some family fun. Jolea had a BLAST and she even let me capture some really sweet photos while we were there. I swear, I could take her in there and not spend any money. She is occupied enough just walking around and touching everything and looking at all the flashy lights and sounds! What a cheap date she is. I think her favorite thing was riding the go-kart with Daddy...going fast...and chasing Mommy around the track! What a fun night with lots of sweet memories.

Daddy and Jolea ready to ride

Jolea's crown and bracelet that she won with all her tickets

Mommy and Daddy being "cool"

Mommy and Jolea Dru

I used to be the Princess in this family...but not anymore :)

Silly Shadow Picture

Football Friday Nights...

Tonight is the night that football fans all over West Texas have waited for...its High School Football Friday Night. It's what happens tonight that best defines most communities in West Texas. Life revolves around football around here and some small towns virtually shut down on Friday night, whether their team is good or bad. I used to think that kind of thing only happened "in the movie" but I have lived in and traveled to those towns that are "closed and gone to the game!" The media coverage and attention that West Texas football gets is amazing and for those people who do not live here, they probably have a hard time understanding all the hype. Those who play it, coach it, cover it and watch it have a hard time explaining to those outside of West Texas why it matters so much...but it does! Football is just-a-game, but when you are the coach's wife, its more than just-a-game. They pour their heart and soul, blood, sweat and tears into every practice...and its far more than just a game come 7:30 on a Friday night.

It has been a tradition of mine since Andy's first season as a coach, to send him with something "sweet" every Friday for the coaching staff. The players are always well taken care of by the cheerleaders, the booster club, girlfriends and parents so I decided I would do my part to take care of the coaches. Today I sent him with a heaping batch of cookies...oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip and peanut butter cup!

I made a quick trip into Cadillac Style today in hopes that I would be able to find cute shirts for Jolea and I tonight...guess what...I was in luck! They gave me awesome service too...she didn't have any on hand, but she went in the back and pressed two shirts for me...right there on the spot! Aren't they cute? And we are matchy-matchy too!

Jolea had her first "real" pep-rally experience today...and I would say she enjoyed herself...it took the "pep right out of her!"

I was shocked at how "over-the-top" the pep-rally was for Hawley being such a small town, but it was actually pretty neat and those cheerleaders had put a lot of work and thought into it. The theme was "Welcome to the Jungle"...but can you believe I forgot to take my camera in with me?

Jolea refused to take a nap this afternoon (...again) before we went to Hawley, so as we speak... (4:50 pm) she is sleeping which could end up being a good thing for me tonight when we are at the game. Hopefully she wont be grumpy. Its really hard to keep her occupied for a whole football game, especially without any back-up!

With all that said and done, Best of Luck tonight to anyone out there with a coach or player on the field...or anyone else that is involved in this West Texas Legacy, also known as the great game of football. Play hard and travel safe.

Jolea Has Big News...

My little girl is getting too big for her britches...and she is fixing to start school a.k.a Mother's Day Out on September the 8Th. I have been telling her all about school, and meeting new friends and learning new things and playing with new toys and I think she is excited. The only real exposure to other children she gets is when we she goes to Sunday school, so this is going to be a really big deal to her because she loves to play with other little kids. Meet the Teacher night is September the 3rd and her first day will be on the 8Th. That means that Jolea needs a nap mat (one with some spunk) like these...

Although these are the most precious nap mats under the sun, I would have to give one of my limbs to be able to afford it, so I am thinking along these lines but cheaper! Any suggestions? She will also need a sweet little back pack with her name on it like this...

I would love to find a hot pink bag with zebra ribbon, but so far no luck. I could...I mean Jolea could definitely learn to live with the polka dots. Next on the list would be a lunch box. I could kick myself in the rear for not getting the one I saw last week at OfficeMax of all places. It was polka dotted and would have been perfect for monogramming! Ugh...I will have to keep looking I guess.

SO...if anyone has any suggestions about where I could find some of these things at a decent price or if anyone knows any secrets/tips about sending your child to MDO, then please let me know (Whitney...I am talking to you...ha ha)! Hope this post finds everyone having a great week.

First Day of School of the Last School Year...

School started Monday and I got to take "another" trip to the McMurry University bookstore. Take a look at this little stack of educational excellence and tell me...how much do you think these babies cost?

My friends you are looking at 293 dollars worth of books..."used" books at that...and there are only three of them. That means they were almost 100 dollars a piece, and that means that colleges and universities all over the world are getting away with highway robbery. Ugh...

The first day back to school was terribly dull for me. I went to bed Sunday night with a headache, the beginning aches of a sore throat and a stuffy nose. When I woke up at 7am, I was in a full fledged sinus infection complete with yucky beautifully green boogies in my nose and that awful pressure that builds up behind your eyes and makes it feel like your eyeballs are going to pop out every time you bend over :) Sorry if that leaves a rather graphic image in your mind...but hey...its the truth. What a way to start back to school right...and on top of all that...can you believe I was grumpy. My daughter didn't help the situation when she decided to be a little "stink" all day long. Whiny Whiny Whiny and have I ever mentioned how stubborn and strong willed she is?

I can remember being young and going back to school on the first day. The outfit was perfect, the hair was done, the lunch was perfectly packed, the back pack was styling and I was ready to go. There was always something magical about the first day of school...too bad I'm all grown up now and the magic has...disappeared. I did realize that I have just began the first days of school of the last school year, and that makes me very happy. I have every intention of getting my masters degree, so I will go back eventually but the majority of that schooling will be done online...so YIPPY for me. There is a light at the end of the tunnel that is beginning to peek through.

Goodbye Summer 2009

That's it...from here on out my Friday nights will be spent: sporting maroon and black, making short road trips, eating fast food, chasing my soon-to-be-2 year old, cheering for the team and praying for my husbands success as a coach.

____________________________________________________________________ Its that time of the year when everything begins to become a fast paced blur. Tonite is the last night of summer vacation for me, and I will be hitting the books first thing Monday morning at get this...8 o'clock! I have managed to get away with mostly 9 o'clock classes the entire time I have been in school, but not so lucky this semester. This semester is the heaviest load I have taken so I am really anxious and worried about the homework load and how I am going to keep up. I know it will all work out as it does, but I am human and I do worry. So if you are taking prayer requests...please pray for me...and my sanity! Praise the Good Lord that this is my last "classroom" semester and in January I start my student teaching and will be done in May :)

___________________________________________________________________ This time of the year is always hard to get adjusted to, and even more so now that we have our little princess in our lives. Its really hard on me not having Andy around to help with Jolea, but I know its even harder on him, to miss out on so much time with the both of us. Luckily he should be getting home between 6:30 and 7 Monday thru Wednesday, but Jolea and I are on our own Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday mornings. The coach in Hawley is an awesome Christian man so that means they wont report for work on Sunday till later in the afternoon/evening so we can attend church as a family and have a nice Sunday lunch. I came across this one woman's thoughts about being a coach's wife...

FOOTBALL. Embrace it. Try not to learn too many of the rules — it ruins the fun. Stop by practice. Learn the kids’ names. Meet their parents. Let your own kids run wild in the end zone after the game. Bake cookies for the staff. Get involved. Hug the mascot. Eat dinner together — even if it’s at the office. Be creative –try sewing, painting, or scrapbooking. Get together with other wives. Dress your baby in a cheerleading outfit. Paint a paw print on her face. Learn to mow the lawn. Redecorate. Plan after-the-game parties. Enjoy control of the remote. Netflix girlie movies. Go to church on Sundays. Make a treat basket for your Coach. Invite the seniors over for dinner. Hire players’ girlfriends to babysit your children. Smile. Keep your fingers crossed for a winning season!

The part about enjoying control of the remote and renting chicky flicks cracks me up...yet it's so true! I cant complain because even though Andy doesn't punch in at 8AM and out at 5PM, he loves his job and he is compassionate about the lives he is changing, and its worth it for both of us. I am Andy's biggest fan...I always have been...and I always will be

______________________________________________________________________

The Summer of 2009 has been a memorable and very busy one. We did so many wonderful things and made many happy memories with family and friends. It is a blessing to be back in Abilene and we look forward to the new school year and the challenges and opportunities that will come with it. Before we know it I will be singing happy birthday to my precious daughter, going trick-or-treating, getting out my fall decorations, trimming the Christmas Tree and ringing in the New Year. Good luck to all the coach's and their wives and families and to all the parents who are sending their sweeties back to school...may God Bless you all this season!

Cranky Babies...Need to go to the Park

My baby was a "grumpy" baby on Wednesday. She woke up on the wrong side of the crib and she stayed on the wrong side of the crib all day long. She was so sassy, that even Grammy sent her home for being a boo-bear. Normally I wouldn't want to reward her for having bad behavior, but I was really not in the mood for the whining that was sure to come if we didn't get out of the house after supper, so we took a short trip to Fort Imagination for some Mommy-Daughter play time. This was our first time to this park and I was really impressed. Jolea really thought she was a "big" enough girl to play on some of the bigger toys, but I wouldn't let her because we cant afford any broken bones right now. She did take a plunge right off the end of the slide while we were there...but she survived. Her little feet got stuck toe-down in the mulch, then it was arms out-face down she went...getting a whole mouth-full of mulch in the process. She did not think it was a very fun experience! I stood her up and dusted her off, and she never thought about it again. Jolea has this phobia about getting her feet dirty and she comes by it honestly because so do I. She will be walking along and then all of a sudden she stops dead in her tracks and just starts going "eww" "eww" and doing this little whiny dance with one foot in the air until I go over there unstrap her sandal, shake it out and put it back on her foot. Can you believe that? Such a prissy pants at such a young age. After we played at the park we took a stroller ride on the pathway over to the pond to look at the ducks...a.k.a...the quack-quacks! Hmm...everything was fine until the ducks exited the pond right in front of us! I began to back up slowly because let's face it, I'm not really afraid of ducks, but I sure didn't want them charging at us. I began to walk backwards with the stroller...the ducks kept coming...I began to walk backwards a little faster...the ducks kept coming a little faster...Finally I turned the stroller and we were at a fast pace walk! Lets just say the faster we tried to get away, the faster they came after us. Luckily another park goer intervened and saved us when they began to feed the ducks! Whew...that was a close one...and Jolea got a complete kick out of it. I can tell you if anyone at the park was secretly watching that whole episode, they were rolling on the ground laughing at "the mom and kid in the stroller that were being stalked by a herd of ducks!" Jolea is spending the night with Grammy tonite (Thursday) and Andy is scouting a football game in Albany, so it looks like I have the house all to myself tonite! I think I will work on a project...that I will show you later! I leave you with some shots of Jolea enjoying the park.

Jolea Dru is Turning Two...In October

I cannot believe how close we are getting to Jolea's 2nd birthday. I am just watching her grow and develop day by day...hour by hour...minute by minute. She is getting so big so fast...before we know it she will be going to Kindergarten. I have decided to do her birthday in zebra, black and hot pink...so adorable. I got my inspiration from another blogger who also did this theme for her daughter's 1st birthday. I have been scouring the Internet collecting images of things I am going to "re-create" on a modest budget. So far here are a few things I have come up with! I welcome all the advice or creative juices that you wish to send my way :) I found these outfits @ Overstock.com and they are very reasonably priced...so I will have to make the tuff decision of which one I like the best...I mean which one Jolea likes the best! Since her birthday is in October, you never know what kind of weather you are going to get, so I better pick out one for the cool and one for the warm just to be on the safe side. I plan on making a birthday hat similar to this one...because I know I can make it cheaper than the 35 dollars they are asking for it :)

This is the precious tutu and zebra leggings that I plan to have her pictures made in this year. I don't know what to do in terms of a top. I was thinking I might get a white tank and some zebra fabric, then I can cut out the number 2 and iron it-on with transfer paper. I could use some hot pink ribbon or sequins to bling it up a little bit! Ideas are welcome!

These were some of my favorite cake designs. I was so disappointed with Jolea's cake last year, so I will be prepared to show the bakery "exactly" what I want this year, instead of giving them a napkin to try and re-create...blah! I was thinking about doing some cupcakes on a stand, with lots of hot pink tulle and hot pink Gerber daisies or maybe even cookies but I haven’t decided yet. I want her to have her very own round cake...that way she doesn’t get all her sweet baby slobber on everybody else's piece of the pie...or cake technically. I love the look of the fondant icing on a cake (the smooth stuff), however I am not big on the pasty-like taste. The cake in the bottom left picture is traditional butter cream...I bet it will be cheaper and it will taste better too.

I hit Hobby Lobby the other day and scored the dessert plates and matching napkins. They were a little pricey, but if I didn't buy them when I saw them they would be gone when I needed them...you know how it goes. I have already checked on the balloon situation at the Card and Party Factory and we will just do a collage of hot pink, black and zebra striped balloons for the party. I thought I would never be able to find a mini-mannequin that I would be willing to pay the price for, but on our LBK shopping trip, I scored one at TJ Maxx and the beautiful thing was it was only 11.99...I saw some at Hobby Lobby just this week and they were 29.99...so I would say I got myself a bargain. I love the idea of having the clear candy containers sitting on her table filled with hot pink, white and black M&M's, but if you have ever looked into custom coloring M&M's you know it’s outrageous...so I am currently working on a back-up plan...got ideas?...shoot them my way.

Here is my version of the mannequin and tutu...I just need to switch the polka dot ribbon with some zebra ribbon...and presto...I will be done. I am thinking about mounting hot pink Gerber daisies around the neck like you see in the picture above, but I haven't quite gotten that far yet. When Andy and I got married, the flowers we used in our wedding were multi-colored Gerber's so I have a ton of them in the attic I can use...and I wont have to spend any money on them...WooHoo!

This next picture is where the idea came to make Jolea's name in zebra and hot pink on wooden letters from Hobby Lobby (that I already had from her nursery, that she is not using anymore). I am trying to come up with a clever way to display her name somewhere on her cake table. Any ideas? I am finished with the letters, but they need some ribbon or tulle to spice them up a little bit and I would prefer that they are stuck into some kind of container on dowel rods when I display them....hmmm....we will have to wait and see what I come up with on this project.

Inspiration picture:

The next thing on the list is the invitation. I found this one, and I really like it. The trick will be finding someone who can re-create it...adding a little personal flair, but I think I have just the right person in mind. I would like to change the wording to..."A piece of cake is waiting for you because Jolea Dru is turning two!" What do you think? How does that sound?

Well I think that's it...I covered the outfits, the cake, the decorations and the invite. Did I forget anything? I am sure I did, but this is a good start and I still have plenty of time to come up with new ideas. It's so fun planning this for her, and hoping she will feel like a special little princess on her special day. She is only going to be 2 so she probably wont remember a thing about this birthday, but you can bet your bottom I will have lots of pictures for her to look at.

~Toodles~

Marvelous Monday...

Oh what fun it was to spend all day long with my little darling...just revelling in how adorable I think she is. (minus the times that she was having a moment...a.k.a...a meltdown) First, we got up bright and early...well it was bright, but it was also 8:30'ish so I don't know if you consider that early or not. Jolea ate her wholesome nutritional breakfast that consisted of a strawberry frosted pop-tart and watched the latest episode of Sid the Science Kid while Mommy was getting her hair and make-up done. Then we headed for the mall...not to shop of course...but to play! Jolea loves the play area and so do I when there aren't 5000 little kids running around like crazy. We always go "early" if we are going to go at all, and it pays off big time. We walked the mall for a little bit after that and even went back for a second dose of playing before we left. We had a few errands to do...you know...Hobby Lobby, Card and Party...those kinds of things, then we headed home for lunch and nap time. After nap time is when all the fun began. Jolea and I had our very first Tea Party in her bedroom with Green Giraffe and the Cheerleader Doll. Jolea was dressed for the occasion in her perfectly pink tutu, her pigtails and bows and that sweet little smile of hers. We had the most fun playing tea party and I might have created a little monster because when it was time to clean up, it was not a pretty sight. Here are the pictures and video clips that I was able to take of our occasion together. Enjoy :) I have the most precious video clips I wanted to share,but blogger is being sassy right now.

We decided to drive over to Grammy and Poppys house for a surprise visit last night! Grammy was gone, but Poppy was surprised. Jolea loves to play in their backyard...its much bigger than ours...and since she was such a good girl today...I thought what the heck! Oddly, when we left there, she had started running a fever...and was feeling pretty awful by the time we got home. She hasn't been sick all summer long, and I hope this is a "teething" issue or else it looks like we might be visiting good ole' Doc Steadman this week.

I was planning on taking Jolea to Fort Imagination early in the morning to play and swimming later after nap, but there is a strong chance that tomorrow might be a "stay-at-home-pj-day with a sick baby :( I hate it when she is sick and my heart just aches because I cant make it better, but I sure do enjoy the cuddle bug that she turns into when she isn't feeling well. She crawls in my lap and lets me hold her and rock her and love on her...and that just doesn't happen very often. Its a high price to pay, but those moments are PRICELESS.

Nice Weekends End Too Soon...

This was a great week for the Ward family. Andy is in full swing football mode and I have enjoyed my break from school. I go back on the 24Th, so this is my last full week home with Jolea before I go back. It kinda makes me sad, that I have gotten a taste of what being a stay at home mom would feel like, and now its already time to get back into the swing-of-things. She grows a little bit each and everyday and she is always learning something "new!" I have enjoyed our time together and we have lots of fun things planned for this week. I want to make the most of it ...and Jolea loves the attention she gets when its just the two-of-us.

I got a new camera this weekend...and I am so happy about it because I was always borrowing my Mom's and one camera split between 2 people who LOVE to take pictures...just wasn't the ideal situation. I got a Canon PowerShot A1000 IS...here it is.

I LOVE it...and I have been told by my favorite photographer (Ashley Phillips) that the Canon PowerShot is a great camera for the money. Woo Hoo...Kodak moments...here I come. Speaking of moments, allow me to introduce you to Jolea the "Cheez-ing" baby. This is her favorite pose as of right now...and it totally matches her personality...and totally cracks me up.

Today was a milestone for Jolea...she actually sit in my lap...and let me put teenie-tiny pigtails in her hair. It melted my heart...and it will now be mommy mandatory that she wear them at least to church. She was so sweet and she looked so girly in them. Although I did have to bribe her with her favorite snack to sit in my lap and let me do her hair, she never messed with them for the rest of the day and we ended up taking them out tonite before bath time...so...way to go Jolea Dru.

Another important thing to mention is that we are "PACI-FREE!" I started early last week by snipping a little off the end. I kept cutting a little more and a little more till the hole was so big that she was really just frustrated with it. So on Wednesday night after we got home from the shopping trip, she decided she didn't want it anymore. She grabbed it in her hand and walked down the hall to the kitchen and just chunked the whole thing in the trash...and that was the last of it. I just knew she would wake up in the middle of the night in a frenzy trying to find it, but she didn't and she has been a real champ about it. I'm so proud of her! Now, we have to potty-train! YIKES!

Well, its late and I have a project for Jolea's birthday to work on (more about that later) so I better close for now...

~GoodNight~

Lubbock Shopping Trip...

Our shopping trip was a success...and on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being terrible and 10 being super-dooper, my Jolea was between a 6 or 7 the entire time. Grammy and I were so proud of her...and how well behaved she was. I mentioned earlier, that my bestie and her sweet family live in Lubbock and they were kind enough to "take us in" for the night. Reagan and Jolea were so cute playing together. They wanted to hug and hold hands everywhere they went and it was the sweetest thing I have ever seen. Its a really neat thing to watch my best friends daughter and my own daughter play together at such a young age. It makes me wonder how our lives and friendship might have turned out if we had the opportunity to know each other before the 10Th grade. Its really too bad that we live so far apart from each other because something tells me they would be the best of buds. We went to Ruby Tequilas for some really yummy Mexican food and then went home to let the girls play some more, relax and visit. It was really nice. We headed out early the next morning to do some shopping and we found some good bargains. Before we headed back to Abilene we wanted to take Jolea to Toys-R-Us for the very first time and reward her for being such a good girl. OMG...she was in heaven! She was in "awe" about all the toys and she would have taken the whole store home had it fit in the Honda. Grammy and I picked out some birthday presents too...since its right around the corner in October. Speaking of birthday...I cant wait to share with you all my birthday "stuff" that I have lined up for Jolea. I got my inspiration from Whitney Johns...a fellow blogger and friend...who has the best ideas for children's parties and decorating...go visit her blog! I don't want to close this post without a special THANKS to Grammy for coming along, and taking such good care of Jolea and I...we LOVE you...and a special THANKS to the Tomlin family for having us in their home. I leave you with some sweet photos I snapped of Jolea and Reagan.

(click collage to enlarge)

Anyone Know Anything About Shopping in Lubbock?

Yippie...Happy...Giddy...that is how I feel about getting out of Abilene to go shopping. I have said it before and I will say it again...the shopping in this town is so BLAH :( Me, Grammy and Jolea are headed to Lubbock on Tuesday for some shopping. We decided to go that direction instead of Fort Worth for 2 reasons. First: its something "different" and they have a pretty good mall. Second: my bestie lives there. She is letting us stay with her and we are going to get our girls together to play. Sounds like a Win-Win situation to me. So...for all you shop-a-holics out there...if you know about any good places that I must go to while I am there, then please reply to this post. I love good shopping and we don't get to do it very often, so the more details, the better!

We Got Cash For Our Clunker :)

We finally... took the plunge...and traded in the 96' Chevy with over 339 thousand miles on it...got the 4500 dollar rebate plus another incentive and got this...a 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander. A special "Thank You" is in order to Andy's Mom and Dad for "giving" us the Chevy in the first place. That truck has been a real "trooper" over the years. They were sweet enough to give it to us right after Jolea was born, just to help make ends meet...and it really did. It has been a blessing not having 2 car payments, and although 2 car payments isn't something we intended on...the auto deals that are out there right now are really hard to pass up. Paying for the new car wont be nearly as fun as driving it, but its safe, dependable and it gets great gas mileage. Jolea likes riding in the new car because she is elevated and can actually see out the window as we are driving. The color is Manitoba Green...I have only ever owned white vehicles, so choosing the color was a big step for me. I have really fallen in love with it though because sometimes when I look at it I see a charcoal color, then other times I see a grey color...so really its like the car changes colors :) We really liked the chrome accents too...they just add a little bling! Vroom...Vroom!!!

(As always click on each collage to enlarge the picture)