Cute-o-meter

The only thing cuter....

than these pink butterfly shortalls

with heart shaped buckles

that I snagged at a resale shop for $1.00

 is the kid wearing them.

Unashamed

When I finish a delicious meal, I compliment the chef and the deliciousness of the food.

 When Sydney finishes a fantastic meal.

 She licks the plate.

Now, THAT'S true appreciation.

Bunco-Rama

I've never played Bunco before, but have been asked to sub many times, and always turned it down.

I was asked again this week to sub and for some reason said, "Why not?"

It was meant to be...My husband got home early (which never happens) and he was able to watch the baby so I could have a night out with the girls. Had a marvelous meal, complete with dessert and coffee, and then it was time to get down to business.

I had a WONDERFUL time. Took me a couple minutes to figure out the game, (since I don't do numbers...I'm a letters person) and I spent a lot of time in the dungeon, but once I got to the winners table, it was GAME ON!

It's all in the wrist, you see. The slight flick of the right pinky just as the dice are flying to the table top. That's the secret you know. I saw several others trying to copy my technique.

I bunco-ed 5 times, got to wear a smashing pink light up cowboy hat, and won the big bucks! WAHOO!

But, the best part about my night out was that I laughed and cut up with some terrific ladies that are an absolute hoot.

I hope I get called again to sub soon. Thanks, Janice, for asking me to fill in!

Long Live the QUEEN!

Road Trips

We are planning out our summer.

So far, we have 2 trips on the books.

Next week, the hubby and I are going to Chattanooga, TN for the State H.O.G. Rally. Sounds like a get together for a bunch of pigs, I know...but H.O.G. stands for Harley Owners' Group, of which Chris is a proud member.

We will be taking the big bike of course...the one designed for lengthy trips. Sydney is staying here with friends and grandparents. Pray that I don't go CRAZY being away from her for 5 days. I may need medication on about Day 4.

I told Chris that if I was going to ride THAT far on a motorcycle that he was going to ensure that the accommodations were top 'o the line. We are staying at the Sheraton in a big honkin' room. We better be...

Tennessee is a beautiful place and we'll have lots of sight seeing to do and attractions to visit. I plan to stop by the Tennessee Aquarium. It is one of the highest rated aquariums in the country and I can't wait to check it out. I have always been a sucker for sea life and stars, so observatories and aquariums have to be included in my vacation.

I plan to blog while on the trip, so tune in for updates on all the fun we will be having.

Then, in July we are going to Kentucky Lake to see my uncle, my brother, and my grandmother. It is my brother's 30th birthday and he lives by himself in Chicago. It will be great to get the fam together!

We will be taking Sydney on that trip, so if anyone has ANY advice about traveling with a 17 month old, PLEASE SHARE. I'm a little nervous. No, I'm a lot nervous. She has not been the best traveler lately.

Summer, here we come!

Freedom

Can't wait to go to church tomorrow. My church is exciting.

I'm so glad I attend a church who knows what the word "freedom" means.

Freedom in worship. Freedom in expressing your love for God. Freedom from sin and all of Satan's hindrances. Freedom from tradition. Freedom from ritual and legalism. Freedom from staus quo. Freedom from judgmental spirits and eyes. Freedom from captivity. Freedom from the fear of man. Freedom from "what is so and so going to think."

Freedom from the belief that church has to be done "exactly this way" and we have to take up the offering "at precisely this time" and we must have preaching "every Sunday" and announcements "must be given" even if it interrupts what God is doing.

FREEDOM

Because sometimes the presence of God is so strong that my pastor doesn't get to preach.

And sometimes we completely forget to take up the offering because God is moving so mightily.
And announcements are given before church starts so they are out of the way and do not interfere with GOD'S ANNOUNCEMENTS of deliverance and salvation.

And sometimes my pastor preaches first, and then we sing, and then we just let God move.

And the coolest thing about all this freedom is that

people are being saved
and filled
and delivered
and healed
and touched
and changed
and rearranged

and it's all because God is not put in a box at our church. He is allowed to do whatever He wants, whenever He wants, however He wants...and it works. It really works.

God has His way because we aren't insistent upon having "OURS."

FREEDOM

Hand, Foot, Mouth, Elbow, Wrist, & Toe Disease

It's official.

Sydney has the yucky blisters in her throat and on her feet.

She is pretty cotton pickin' miserable.

The doc said yesterday that she had ulcers in her throat and that if she started refusing to eat/drink that I needed to call her. I assured her that she was fine and was eating great. Heck, I didn't even know she was sick.

Well she decided today that eating and drinking was just too painful.

So a phone call was made.

Medicine was called in and given.

And this mama will be busy babying her baby this weekend. I've worked quite a bit this week and I think we just need to hang out.

'Cause sometimes you just need your mama...no matter how big you get.

Don't Wanna Go

I should have known that today was going to be tough due to Sydney starting to fuss in the first 15 seconds of pulling out of the driveway to head to Nacogdoches for her 15 month checkup. Nacogdoches is 80 miles away. There are no pediatricians in Jasper and Chris only trusts Aggie doctors, so we drive to Nac to see Dr. Huggins who is a wonderful, kind, brilliant, and genuinely good person. I don't mind driving to Nac. I like Nac. I have friends in Nac. But, apparently my child doesn't like to travel so much these days, so my formerly peaceful drive to Nac is very stressful.

It just seems like these visits get harder and harder the older she gets. We walk in the cheerful office and Sydney starts to stiffen up. She knows...yes...she knows...this is where her legs get poked.

Throughout the visit she cries and fusses and cries and fusses. I can't even hear what Dr. Huggins is saying. I start to get flushed and irritated and frustrated with my child. I don't understand why she's having such a meltdown. Sydney has a blockage in her right ear and it must be removed. She really enjoyed that part..oh yeah.


Then, come to find out, she has ulcers in her throat. It's just a virus but can make usually pleasant children very unpleasant. Joy.
Then, here come the shots. They give the shots 2 at a time so it is over with in a hurry, but still makes my child really ticked off. She screams, thrashes around, and acts like she is being tortured. Lovely.
We get in the car and the fussing continues....all the way back home. I end up having my dad drive (Pawpaw came along for emotional support and extra arms) so I can sit in the back seat, shove fruity Cheerios in her mouth, sing to her, amuse her, and attempt to keep her from screaming. I usually can't ride in the back seat due to car sickness, so that adds to the excitement.
We finally arrive home after a fun-filled day at the doctor's office. I pitch her in the crib and crash out myself.
The kid sleeps for 2 hours. She wakes up, happy as a clam...like nothing ever happened.

Goody goody... I can't wait till we go back in August.
Yippee.