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Tuesday, July 26, 2011

The cost of...

I have a problem. I can't seem to stop buying things. I have decided that I'm going to take this month and not buy a single thing. Yes, my family will need things but there are other competent adults who can shop. I need to "detox". I need to prove to myself that I can go without swiping a card or clicking Submit Order. A great deal is only a great deal if you need it and that need is beginning to change meaning. I don't like it.

I am taking it a step further and downgrading from a smart phone. ___(insert gasp here)___ Oh help me. I know the world will not stop spinning. Somehow I will survive without being able to check __(insert all-important-topic-here)__ immediately or keep up-to-the-minute on my email. I will still have my iPhone, it will simply be downgraded to iPod status. Maybe I'll learn how to converse again. Who knows what wild and crazy things will happen!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Wedding day...beginnings

Well, not the best way to start things off but the group of Chattanooga Photographers came through in a big way. I could not locate my charger and no one in town had one so I put out an SOS and the amazing Keith Heptinstall lent me an extra camera. Amazing!




Goin' to the chapel...er...courthouse...



Congratulations to Courtney & Duran! Love you guys!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Monsters!




What is this!?! It was huge and crawling across the parking lot. Never seen anything like it! It was almost big and ugly enough to make me grab my children and run screaming away!

...ok, not really.

But it did come after me!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

I'm moving to the desert...

I spent all day battling grass. I swear it grew as fast as I cut it! I used the reel mower (love), an electric weed trimmer and a backpack blower. I'm exhausted! It looks like people live here now but I'm not sure how I'm getting out of bed in the morning...

Wrestling the Ocoee

Aaron just got home from kayaking the Ocoee and apparently the Ocoee won this wrestling match. He has all kinds of stories about how he got tumbled and beat up on Double Suck and how he had so much fun in Powerhouse. I'm glad he had fun and I'm glad he came home with all appropriate pieces still attached.

Finally, a reel mower!


I love my new "toy"! It's a major workout when you first start hacking your way through the lawn but it's much more rewarding, for me at least, to do it this way. I love the noise the mower makes. I love that I don't have to worry about electric cords or gas cans or yanking my shoulder out of socket every time I want to start it. It's wonderful!

Next up...need some kind of a trimmer! For now we are borrowing an electric one from my wonderful Grandpa.


Thursday, July 14, 2011

Best date!

Sammi is quite the talkative dinner date!



She makes an awesome mani/pedi date as well!








Samantha is 3!!

Story Photo

Happy Birthday, Sammi Bug!! (well, officially on the 9th)


I cannot believe it's been 3 years since we brought you home. I cannot imagine life without you and your crazy stunts. I love you more than words can say and I pray that this next year is even better than the two before it!

4th of July

Sammi and Maddi at Collegedale's fireworks


I love the 4th of July. It's seriously one of my favorite holidays! I love the fireworks and getting dressed up in red, white and blue ... cook outs ... swimming....

Working...


Well, so much for working tonight. I just got called off the job because the family changes their minds. :-/ Onward on the hospital job search...

Sleep


Story Photo




Now, to figure out how to make myself sleep some today so I'm not hating life at work tonight...

Unwelcome visitors...

We have rats. Ick!! There's one stuck somewhere in our closet that opens to the attic. We set snap traps tonight bit he has already robbed one trap and I swear I'll have a heart attack if he snaps another one tonight. He's huge and the traps are huge and loud...


Conclusion: We caught 4-5 in the basement and one under our bed. Yuck and yuck! As soon as I heard it under the bed I lept for the door and told Aaron he could deal with it! I went down to the couch!

I love you but...


Story Photo






Sammi, after I hit a button to add more pieces to her game: 
"I love you but you can't do that anymore."

Party!



Story Photo





Today is Sam's birthday party. The cake is finished and we will be headed to Laura's in a few min for some swimming, haystacks and cake & ice cream. Yum! I can't believe my baby is 3!

Yum!


Story Photo








Holiday breakfast!
Pancakes with fresh blueberries & strawberries and whipped cream. Does it get any better?

Playtime!








I think it's a hit!
Thanks to Daddy & Co. for bringing it up from Atlanta and to Papa Fred to buying it for us! Yea!!

Working...

Well, I have a 12 hour shift Friday and then I'll most likely be working 7p-7a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday nights. I'm just happy for the hours.

Just cake.

"Sammi, do you want Special K Roast for your birthday dinner?"
"No."
"What do you want?"
"Just cake."

Mountains of progress



Story Photo


Mountains of rubble beside mountains of wood chips and it still looks like very little has happened in way of clean-up after the April tornados. It's hard to imagine having your entire life wiped out in a matter of seconds. I cannot comprehend what those people went through! God bless them!

Job search


I passed my CNA boards! ...now to get Erlanger, Memorial or Parkridge to call me back!

Monday, June 27th

Museum time!


We had so much fun with Mimi at the Creative Discovery Museum this morning. Followed by lunch at "the pony place" with Papa B and Daddy and it was a beautiful day! Ahh nap time!

Date night



Story Photo


Not the ideal way to end a date but the rest of the night was worth it. Taco Bell & Cool Swirl for dinner followed by hiking to Sunset Rock then Bad Teacher at the Majestic 12. I'm loving our weekly date nights. Our poor Subi is going to have to wait until we get some money for a transmission but fix it we will!


Kids





I told Sam I had to go to Nashville to take a test today (my CNA state boards).
"Why?"
"So I can get a job."
"Why?"
"So I can make money."
"Why?"
"So we can pay bills and buy a house."
"Can I buy a house?"
Lol! I love kids.

Why?

These girls are growing too fast. Maddi is always busy...always moving or doing something. Sam has learned "Why?" and I'm amazed how annoying a 3-letter-word can be. LOL!