Happy Birthday to Me!

As Iturned 47 years old today, I feel pretty good. I feel great that I am alive to celebrate another year. Hard to believe sometimes that I am 47. 47 years ago I was born. Cute pic I think! with my little curl on top of my head.

Today was a mellow day. Raining this morning, went to church. Vincent and I ate lunch with Mom, Dad, Alpha Brown (my second mom), Ann Tankersley (now my third mom), Terry Schultz at TR's Oriental. Came home, rested and layed around the rest of the day. Mom, Deborah, Natasha and Nick all called to wish me a happy birthday. Last night, Natasha, Randy, Allyssa, Dakota, Nick, Vincent and I went to Texas Roadhouse for my birthday. We had a good time.

Think I will go and see what I can find to nibble on. Not really hungry. Lunch was enough for me, but I want to nibble! Got to get read for work tomorrow.

Fun Day....

Blessings! I have so many blessings in my life, these 2 angels, a great husband, 2 beautiful children that are not in any serious trouble or have caused any serious trouble lately is a blessing in itself, 2 wonderful parents who stand beside me through THICK AND THIN, my mother who has become more and more each day my bestest friend, a good paying job with health insurance, Vincent's new endeavor with my dad learning to operate cranes, my health, my family's health, 3 loving (in their own way) siblings, 4 beautiful nieces, 2 handsome nephews, 2 sweet sisters-in-law, and many extended members of our family, and many old friends and acquaintances, new friends and acquaintances, and I am sure I could come up with several more blessings. I was listening to a preacher one time who said that he does not go to sleep each night without thanking God for at least 1 blessing.....I thank God for ALL my blessings each and every day. I try to thank God for everything he has given me. I have had some tough times in my life, no tougher than any other person, but all the same tough for me, but I have come to realize that the tough times in my life, I think, are allowed there by God to bring me closer to him. I ponder alot of things during my "down" times throughout the day.

It was a beautiful day today, Mom and I meet Deborah and Asheton at Fuddrucker's for lunch for my birthday which is tomorrow. Deborah has been sick all week. Asheton gave me my first birthday card for an Aunt, so sweet! Deborah was going home to re-read her card for her birthday from Mom to see if hers was as mushy as mine was!!!!! LOL, she is so funny. Mom and I were heading back to A.C. Moore which we left to go to eat. Bought some rubber stamps, patterned paper, Ali Edwards first scrapbooking book, some ink pads, and we got the items to make Allyssa's sleep-over invitations.

Allyssa went to her first funeral today. It was a member of Natasha's dad's family. Jackie Brissey. She requested to be cremated so Allyssa was asking questions as to how and why her ashes were in a box. I tried to explain the best I could. I am not quite sure that she understood it, but she was alright with the funeral concept. I had been exposing her to funeral homes with several people who has passed away in the past year and I would go by the funeral home to view the body and sign the book. She would always stay in the office or at the front desk and write or talk the people at the funeral home's head off. I explained to her what I was doing and she was ok with that. She did not ask to go with me it was like she understood. She is so smart and intelligent for a 6 year old.

She is interested in the death of President Lincoln right now. They studied about him and President Washington the last couple of weeks at school. She can tell her how Lincoln was shot, who did it, where it was done, which president he was. So sweet.

Well, guess I had better get off now. I have just about written a small essay.......

What a cutie-patootie!!!!!!

Take a look at this cutie little specimen of a child!!!!! How do you like that play on words? And look the picture even has a "halo-glow" around her cute little head, even if the cute little "flip" hairstyle!

I look at this picture and try to see what an outsider would see when they look at it....probably sandy brown hair, large green eyes, cute little nose, one little earlobe showing on the right side, and that cute little dimple in the middle of her chin....perfect smooth complexion...what did her little mind dream of, what did she want to be when she grew up, what did she think at this age about her childhood, her family....was she happy most of the time, what did she get sad about....who were her friends...could she even have any enemies....(not that cute face!). I remember this dress with the little sash going over the shoulder, probably had on little white socks and little loafer shoes. Sometimes I wish I did know what I thought about, what I wanted to be when I grew up, what made me happy, sad. I do know one thing, I LOOOOVVVVEEEEDDDD my mama and would never do anything to hurt her or cause her any undue pain. Of course, I have always felt that way. Although sometimes life throws hurdles our way that we have trouble jumping over, but deep down inside we never loose the love we feel for our mamas. We have a special bond that nothing or know one can ever take away from us. ok, enough of that...I get so melancholy sometimes.....

The flu has been running rampant around the plant at work. Some has even turned into pneumonia. Then there is also a virus going around too. I have been lucky so far by not getting it this year, I have had the sinus infection, that I cannot get rid of, but not the flu. I took a flu shot again this year so maybe that has helped. Of course, last year I did the same thing and got sick right after having it. Dakota keeps a rattle in her chest and running nose, Allyssa has had a cold a couple of times but not really, really bad. Vincent is feeling 100% better, goes to train tomorrow with dad so they can hurry up and get him his CDL. The sooner the better. Had a beautiful day today, 72 degrees and bright sun. Oh for springtime....just a taste of what it will be like in a month of two. Can't wait. Spring and Fall, my favorite seasons. Well, gotta go and get my hair dryed and straightened before bed. Later.......

Monday....

My girls......they are so precious. I have not seen Allyssa since Valentine's day....I sure do miss her. I have had Dakota on Friday and today. She is a hambone! She has been promoted to the Toddler class at daycare. It is so cute to see her in this class when I get there to get her. She is sitting with the other kids eating their afternoon snack. Of course, when she sees me, she is ready to go, no questions asked. They usually change her diaper when I get there and I guess she thinks I am leaving her because she starts crying until they get done and hand her back to me. Today, she was soooo ready to go, when they handed her back to me she went for her coat and bag, silly girl. Good riddence is probably was she is thinking!!!!!! Anyway, it has been a tiring day, have this nagging cough, running and then stopped up nose, busy at work, one thing after another. 16 people out at work with this flu thing. trying not to get it myself. Vincent is still feeling bad, but I keep telling him not to lay around and let it get the best of him......well, gotta go for now and wind down for the evening.....

Everytime I see a rose I think of Mom. She loves roses. She once told me if there was an afterlife she would want to come back as a rose! She is my rose anyway. I love you Mom. Thanks for a wonderful day yesterday. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy our Saturdays together. I makes me smile to think about all the things we talk about, the same things we think and say, (like the ma bell conversation where we both said in unison, "she sold us out"!!!!) I love it. Today was a beautiful day. The sun was brightly shining and the temperature was not TOO bad. Starting an "idea journal". Just to have little things in it for inspiration, like pictures that remind me of a possible layout, colors I like together, etc. something to do, as if I don't have enough to do as it is. But you know what they say, idle hands are a devil's workshop, so I cannot be idle!!!!! Until later.....................

Tomorrow is play day!!!!

Hello there! Is this not the cutest little picture. Today has been a very good day. Worked, then picked up Dakota, Allyssa goes to her dad's this weekend, came home and played with Dakota till Natasha got off of work. Went to Eckerd's picked up my blood pressure medicine, went to Walmart, bought "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" book, by Kim Edwards, a notebook for Vincent, had a quick bite to eat at Arby's and came home to do the poster that I has to be put up in church tomorrow for Stewardship Sunday. Going to play tomorrow at Eleanor's with Mom, woo-hoo, can't wait. I love my Saturday time with Mom. A time for us to just talk, vent our problems, agree with one another, disagree (sometimes), eat lunch, by another collection of scrapbook paper and more collections of rubber stamps. A girl can never have enough printed paper, scrapbook supplies and rubber stamps!!!!!! Can't wait.............................

What a day!

Hello there!!!!! Is she a sweetie or what? That little thing on the floor behind Dakota is her banana cookie, if you are curious! She dropped it when she could not decide what she wanted from the kitchen Monday afternoon. Allyssa was at the kitchen table writing. Busy, busy at work, but some kind of "virus" is going around the plant, averaging about 8-10 people out a day since Monday. I haven't gotten it and don't want it so Joan and I are "lysoling" everything and staying away from the ones who come back to work still running a fever and sick, thanks Eric! Not working Saturday, plant manager says that maintenance needs to turn off the heat (which we don't need on anyway with all the machines in there), open the doors and get all the "sick germs" out and give us all a break. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the overtime $$$$$$$$$, but I need a break too. Didn't get the see Allyssa today, :-( (sad face). She goes to her dad's house after school tomorrow so it will be Monday before I see her again, I pick up Dakota at the day care after I get off of work. Well, time to get ready to "hit the hay" as they say in the south! What is it with people who were born and raised in the south and don't EVEN know or have heard of any of the southern sayings.....I think I have heard most of them all....Well, gotta go, sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite!!!!! I love that one, think of you Mom when I say it or hear it!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Allyssa doing her Valentine cards! I miss the days of school valentine parties and exchanging valentines with all the class! The "innocence" of valentine's day!, making the valentine boxes and the valentine holders out of paper plates glued or stapled together to hold all the valentine cards you would get. Brings back so many memories. Of course, when we gave out valentine cards they were "generic" so you could give any one of the cards in a box to a boy or girl, it didn't matter plus you had at least 1 teacher card. Nowadays the cards are girl cards and boy cards (Disney Princess, Barbie, Superman, Batman, etc.) Allyssa did not even think twice about giving the boys a "Disney Princess" valentine card. She had to have Superman to give the boys!!! Any there was not one teacher card in the boxes. Went to the doctor today for my checkup since my last appointment where I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. Blood pressure was 117/75, medicine was working great, (according to Dr. Hammond!) still have the sinus infection, treating that again, lost 10 pounds, feeling better most days, some days not, but working on it. Well, it is time to get in the shower, finish my valentine cards and head to bed! Such an exciting life! But I am healthy so I can't complain, (too much!!!). Till later.....

Good Day!

This was a good day. Had to work from 6:00 am til 10:00 am, then went to Mom's while she got ready for us to go to lunch and then to Eleanor's Stamps and More. Love that store!!!!! We ate lunch at Apollo King, minced bbq sandwiches of course, then headed to our favorite stamp store. We go so much they know us on first name basis!! We spent a couple of hours in there looking, cutting up, looking some more, heading for the checkout 3 or 4 maybe more times, got to the checkout and Mom heads back to get one more stamp. Crazy woman! We had a good time today just hanging out acting like our crazy selves! Then when we left we went to Atlanta Bread Company and got a Kona Mocha Cafechillo and talked, laughed and relaxed until it was time to call it a day, around 4:00... On the way home, picked up a bolt in my tire, then had to find a repair shop to fix it, luckily the Rapid Lube beside Red Lobster was open and willing to plug the tire for only $8.00. Pretty good!!!! Made a sympathy card and birthday card for Alpha, washed and dryed 2 loads of clothes, cleaned up some 2006 files and now it is time to relax for the evening! Enjoyed today Mom, Love ya bunches!

Friday!!!!

This is a picture of some baby ducks that Mom, Allyssa and I ran across in November, 2004, when we had went to Furman University to walk. We used to go to Furman to feed the ducks, but now they have gotten rid of all the ducks, (supposedly, we haven't been back in a while).

It is Friday, the day after the snow. We had a total of about 1 inch of snow, maybe a little more. Pretty much gone today. Out of work yesterday, (snow day, woo-hoo!), of course, we did not get paid for it. Got to work tomorrow at least 4 hours, maybe 5. Got Dakota from daycare today, went back to Mom's. Dad brought Vincent back to their house, then we left there, picked up Dakota's overnight clothes and headed to Highway 129 and Highway 29 to meet Randy's mom to give her Dakota. She is keeping her for the night, since everybody has to work tomorrow. Allyssa went to her dad's this weekend. Well, I think I will go now and look at my scrapbook table once again and try to get motivated to do a little scrapbooking. It hasn't worked in the past several months, don't know if it will tonight....well see.