FEBRUARY Photo A Day

Starts tomorrow! Link up here.

Here's how to play: per Chantelle {fat mum slim}

1. Use the list above as inspiration and take a photo everyday. For example for number one on the list, 'your view today' you'd take a shot of whatever it is that you can see today. This would be a wider shot of your office space, where you went for a walk, or whatever it is that you can see!

2. Share on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, your blog or where ever it is you want to share. If you're sharing on Instagram or Twitter use the hashtag #FEBphotoaday so everyone can find them. There's a great community around the photo sharing, so do share!

3. Check out everyone else's pictures. I do it before I go to bed each night and it's so fun to see how different everyone's photos are. There are people from every corner of the world playing.

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Today's Braid

Here are the chosen braids for today. The large braid in the back starts from the left ear and follows the hair/neck line around. The small braid starts about the peak of the forehead and comes straight down to meet the other. We are getting so adventurous! I certainly won't win any awards on neatness or consistency but this 6 year old sure does think I am spot on! The real key is how long it stays in. How do you braid? Are there any tips to help me be the best mom on the block?

Also, suggest the best product that helps with the fly away hair?


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Regular Ducati Children

Just look at this form! Ladies and gentlemen, you had no idea Bama and I have been raising future street racers of America!

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Making up!

A missed school on Monday, K5 that is. Needless to say we had 3 pages of make up work sent home on Tuesday. Really? 

What I should say: I am so thankful for the things that they are learning and A has progressed so much it is unreal!

What I am saying: Come on people K to the 5! Calm down already......

What needs to be said: Mrs. Jan (A's teacher) is A-Mazing! Her patience could easily give Job a run for his money. She is the kid whisperer. Mad skills people. Even when she is punishing the kids it almost like you can't be mad, she is so slick with it. The kids feel the pain but it doesn't hurt! Does that make sense? Probably not! 

PS: Mrs. Jan, because you gave A the take home work, I was irritated unrightfully. On the positive, I did manage to find Dumplin's sock hiding place just there, in the pic, under my bed. So thanks from all of us for making things match!!!

Billy Graham~

“A child needs both to be hugged and unhugged. The hug lets her know she is valuable. The unhug lets her know that she is viable. If you’re always shoving your child away, they will cling to you for love. If you’re always holding them closer, they will cling to you for fear.”

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Boo Boo Bandit

Last weekend I reported on this season's basketball practice and that a game was soon to follow. The game was nowhere near Addison's picture but Kadence was pumped. She got up quick and put on her jersey shorts got her little pixie hair pulled up, it was presh.....

With Daddy Do in tow, she was headed out to christen the new bball shoes!

Addison and I  got our lazy on and just as I drifted off the dogs started barking. Crap, what did they forget?

Nothing, Nada, no forgetamundo!

It's what they brought back that was pitiful. The team coaches had not opened the gym yet and K and her boy BFF went to check the side door. On the way back, they raced. Both tripped, skin and tears were lost that morning. Kadence is a TERRIBLE patient by the way. Everything burns! "Mommy, don't look at it, it burns!" " Really Kady, my looks make it burn?" After getting all patched up, she desperately wanted to go back to the game. Daddy Do was the bad guy and said no, so she sniffled, whined and walked with a stiff leg all afternoon and told him it was his fault for not watching her close enough and that is why she got hurt! Kids.....everything is our fault!

Warning: Cuts in picture appear less deep as in real life!

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Tooth Fairy Blunder

Keep in mind that we have been battling the war of virus McMake Rounds-A-Lot. Totally not my fault.....I swear!

Addison has had this loose from tooth for two weeks straight. Right in the front, cocked to the side, dangling by a thread, loose tooth. Problem is her mouth is so tiny that Daddy Do and I couldn't get our chubby fingers in there to fetch it. Finally, this past Saturday night A had tolerated enough incessant wiggling and had come to the end of her rope, literally. We tied a sring to the little nugget and slammed the door. She was standing there so brave and bubbling with excitement. Tie went the string, slam went the door and POP went the tooth, right out of her mouth, into the floor.

Not twenty minutes later we were giggling and deciding how much the TF might bring for such a courageous girl and one mighty fine tooth. "Mom, my tummy is cramping."says A, with a little scrunched nose. "No, you are fine....totally fine. It's just your nerves from all the toothy excitement!" says unsuspecting mother. Little whispers "I don't think I want to spend the night with Mammie? I want to go home, now." Mommy's mind "HO-LY fiddle hockeys, star crunch!"

We get home to severe stomach cramps and one sick little puppy. All night long kinda sick. My brains (all of them) were completely focused on this itty bitty's beck and call. After spending the majority of our time in the bathroom we where exhausted and the Lysol can was embedded into my palm. Lightening cracks, thunder shakes the house and the rain sounded like a full on hurricane. Stay with me people, we have made it to Monday morning. At least I get a bright eyed girl, still with a pale face but improving, "I guess my tooth wasn't good enough?" pouted face. What no visit, no dough...... "Sure it was baby, you know that TF didn't want to catch that virus. I am positive she will visit tonight." screeches the Mom with scrambled eggs for memory.

Scene: Tuesday morning, Dad gone to work early, littles in bed, Mom catching a quick, HOT shower before work. Knock, knock! "Come in sweet doll, I'm in the shower!" " Well Mom, it happened again!" " What did?" " The TF was a no show." "UHHHHH, you are kidding?" " Mom, do I look like I am kidding?" "Well no, no you don't" "I know Mom, She must have been scared of Dumplin (harmless chihuahua)!" "Addison you are surely right!"

Here we are and it's Tuesday night, tooth under pillow, fairy website visited and money in hand. Fourth night is the charm around here folks. Parenting is tough!

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Media Minutes

Image source http://www.kliou.com/what-not-to-wear-on-an-interview/

If you are like me and have been with the same company for a few years there might be something you don’t know about scoring a new job. While perusing the news, this article struck my attention due to the fact that I haven’t had to scramble through a new company interview in the last seven years. Man, have the times changed! No really, have they changed that much? Most of us are well aware that you don’t go into a corporate (or any) interview sporting your Saturday night pick me up skirt. What I was shocked to find out where the things, that seemed minor to me, listed in the top ten. Like a purse with a busy pattern, when did that reflect negatively on your work skills. How about the color of you polish and the neatness of your nails. Ladies we all know that keeping those finger tips in shape is the key to putting the position in the bag. Check it out and tell me what you think! I may be totally off base, in thinking some of these are odd, you decide.
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Important enough to share

I know that a lot of us are looking to streamline our lives a bit in 2012. Most of all people are realizing the time they throw away that could be spent with family or friends. Secondly, considering some individuals comment that the economy is rising, people on or around my intake level aren't really seeing the benefits yet. Have you eve heard the saying " it takes a second to loose trust but years to gain it back"? I believe this is true with economy and even right down to personal finances. The past week I have been thinking a lot about ways to improve the quality of life for my family. Most everyone is addicted to pinterest, myself included, and I came across a blog that provided some tips to get me going in the right direction. If you are one of the many people trying to get back to the basics and enjoy things that are important, please take the time to look it over. It helped me to gain a new perspective without overwhelming my mind. There are printable charts and lists on the particular organization post, they are very trendy and helpful at the same time. So here's to us trying to make things simple again!

1 Corinthians 14:40

But all things should be done decently and in order.

BBallin it!

It is basket ball time. This is Addison's 3rd year and she has made tremendous improvement. I was shocked to see her throwing it up for two.

Kadence has never attempted any sport or athletic class. Poor little thing she has alway been so shy but this year is her year!She might not be the strongest on the team but it is such a blessing to see her out there making an effort.

We have only had practice so far. our first game is coming up, so excited to be a ball mom!!!whoop whoop!

Back it up

Here is a little project the hubs and I did last month when it was a bit warmer. I didn't get any try before pictures but I am sure we can paint it in your mind with words. We started with an older entertainment center, walnut brown if not darker? It had yucky brass pulls and was in desperate need of a makeover. Although there are a few more things that I would like to add doors with centered chicken wire, in the large mid section.

The wood was dark, so we primed the piece first. This took the longest to dry and sand down a bit. Then we coated it in eggshell.

The fabric has a light pattern and I though it would be great for the inside. We used standard fabric glue to adhere to the inside of the top two sections. There was no need to do this on the bottom. One slot is for a drawer and I purchased woven baskets for the lowest slot.

This is the "almost" finished product. I got the wrong size pulls, even after measuring twice. I wrote it down wrong on my list, oh well. This just leaves room for another post. I think it looks much better even now.

What happened to the past 6 years?

Jan. 11th, 2006 - I got out of bed and preformed my normal routine. I felt fantastic to be 39 weeks pregnant. Getting ready for my (fingers crossed) last pre-delivery OB appt. I thought about what our baby girl would look like and eagerly anticipated her arrival. Waddled out the door and endured an hour long drive the Dr.'s office. My progression was less than to be desired but my Doc was always so great at planning. She quickly told me to choose a date and we would get this train rolling. Of course, the word tomorrow shot out of my mouth like a steaming bullet. I returned to work that day, got my affairs in order and tried to pass the time.

Jan. 12th, 2006 - Sleep had been out of the question for many weeks but somehow I managed to get the most complete rest the night before. I think it was the fact that we new where, when and how this would be happening and all of the sketchy pre-term labor scares where out of the way. So at 3:30 am, all bright a bushy tailed, we got ourselves together and the car packed, met up with my mom and headed to the hospital. We arrived around 5am and it was still pitch dark walking through the parking deck. I can remember walking to the glass door and stopping because I was shaking so badly. I was scared and Bama was scared, a good scared I guess. Here we where the day we had a waited for 9 long months. With 1000 cords and monitors hooked up, we waited and waited. "Please Lord don't let me be one of the unfortuntate ladies to lay here in labor for 25 hours!" It was like watching concrete dry, the hands on the clock would round and round but nothing was producing. About 5pm the go ahead was given, okay a green light to push. We got this! Bama looking weathered by that time, had almost given out. The anesthesia had made me deathly sick and I had nothing to eat but liquids from the iv drip. It looked like an excerpt from the exorcist. When I looked at him and his face was pale and green tinted, I knew to give him the signal to bow out. He was precious that day and I knew he felt terrible for leaving me but at that point there where three of us and he knew he was the bottom of the totem pole. Not long after Bama exited this little baby decided that she would not make an entrance without a scene and it ended us in the emergency C-section room. My mother went in with me as Bama stand in. It didn't take long and I felt terrific. Those drugs I would recommend 10 fold. After the panic this baby had caused just minutes prior my mind was on high alert of what difficulties could be headed our way. I don't remember taking a breath the entire time but once that terrific scream was let out, all I could do was cry. At 7:02, weighing 7lbs 2oz, 21in. long in all her beauty, we had an Addison to take home.

Jan. 12th, 2012 - To Addison, your spirit and attitude are a lot to handle at times. You have always acted twice your age and made us feel twice ours. You told today me that I was the best mother and snuggle buggler in the world. For once I agreed with you. We may not always make the right choices or be the best parent but we love you and we need you.

7 weeks




1 year

2 years

3 years
4 years


5 years

6 years

You will always be our Boozle!

Love Mom & Dad

Making a change

For a while now Bama and I have been wanting to make some changes in the girls sleeping arrangements. They both start the night out in their own beds fabulously. It's just around 2am they end up in the bed with the parentals. A, started out in a bassinet beside our bed but back then Daddy Do worked the night shift and Mommy got awfully lonely in the bed. So she would sleep with me until Bama got home around 3am. K, has NEVER been one to sleep in the bed with us. She would always fight and become restless until we tightly swaddled her and put her back into her crib. Once we moved into our new home, almost 2 years ago, they both slept famously and enjoyed their new rooms. Within the last 6 months they get up and move to our bed. A, has been begging us to either sleep on the family room couch or in Kadence's floor on a pallet. This has been going on for the last 3 months. I am thinking that if we put them in the same room that it might help out?

Right now A has a full size bed, dresser w/mirror, side table and tall boy that all match. K has a twin bed and a few pieces that coordinate. One room would be to

o cramped with both of those beds and bunks are still a little dangerous for my taste. We are probably going to go with two twins? Know I am on the hunt for a few gems. I am really in love with the color schemes below, what cha think?

I am going through a gray phase and think that these would be great accent pieces for some solid bedding. Quilts are pretty expensive, I may try my hand at these rag styles. Hopefully, I will have some before pics soon and maybe ask for some decorative ideas to restyle some furniture. Get your thinking/designer caps ready!

Momma Learns...

Stages are a big deal. The girls have gone through some many I stopped counting and documenting all of them. So this is just for the sake of my mind. A likes her hair long, shiny, soft and smelly good. Those are her main requirements. A recent hair-ism is the bump, teased bangs with strands of hair pulled back over it and "body pinned". Oh and don't forget that pony goes on the side. Yey, for still getting a bow in every now and then. "Momma bows are for babies!" (Rip Sound) that was heart being torn from my chest.

Then we have the most recent faze with braids. I have never been a good braider. What I'd like to know is when did a regular braid go out of style. I have watched so many you tube tutorials my eyes are crossed. Now it's the french down one side, around the head and down the opposite shoulder, waterfall, fishtail......SHEW, my stubby fingers are aching. I have learned that I can braid wet hair much easier and neater that dry. I guess because my chubs can't hold onto dry floaty hair?

At least I have it pretty easy with K, she detests having long hair. Her head is so sensitive that brushing her hair is a nightmare. We did decide on a new little cute to make her little cuteness pop. She calls it her pixie hair do.

NO resolutions.....promises maybe!

I am soooooo bad at resolutions that I can't even utter the word, well at least after this post! Here is the vow to make and keep promises this year. We will call it promises cause I feel much worse when I break a promise, don't you? So here are my promises for 2012!

-get right with God! Not just me but all four of us. 2011 was by far our worst year at staying in touch religiously. We decide early in the year that our little home church was wonderful and full of precious family members but it just wasn't a good fit for us anymore. We visited many fantastic churches over this year and just haven't settled on a more permanent faith home. So we will probably do a bit more visiting and then choose. After all I don't want to timeline this one cause the Man upstairs is sure to let us know when we have hit gold.

-be in tune with the hubs! Bama and I have made it through the seven/eight year itch and are headed to the nine. We do work great together when we are

not broken. Okay, so I won't say we are broken, just rusty. This means making the time to pamper our marriage and remembering why we got married and what the institution stands for (refer to #1, reference The Book!)

-successfully maintain our household! This means to me, have everything in order not just do the "someones coming shuffle". That's what we call throwing everything into mom n dad's room and slamming the door shut, haha! Alright, so that's at least having things presentable, yet not interfering with the girl's right to have fun. After all a slightly messy house is a happy one....please don't burst my bubble, we have to start somewhere!

In order to not stress out completely, these are the first few promises that I can keep. Once these have been smacked out of the park, we can move to new ones. Yeah, how'd you like that, smacked out of the park, baseball reference, look at me, I am so sporty. I think that is on the hubs promise list. #1 make wifey more sports affiliated, check!

And of course in all randomness here is a pic from our very last Cmas gathering. We will call it the 2nd Annual Husband's Immediate Family Christmas. GN

(pictured L to R, Addison, Alston, Kadence, Nanna & Kenzie)