Rainy Day & College Football

Even though the weather isn't the best outside...



It sure is great on the inside!







Final score is 56 to 10.

~~~

And just in case you all aren't following the weather news, Gustav is already a Category 4 Hurricane. Florida is already feeling some of the outer bands...but it looks like Louisiana is going to feel the full brunt of the storm.

Keep all of them in your thoughts and prayers as you go about your holiday weekend celebrations.

BREAKING NEWS! -

Bryleigh just cut her first tooth!



Teething Gel always makes it feel better...

This Makes Me So Sad...

Poor little Kadence has had a really bad ear infection for the past couple of weeks...and isn't allowed to swim. So, she sits on the step and watches the others play.



Mikey & Kaleigh swim over to the step...



as Kyla calls to her from the deep end.



Then she looks at me and asks..."When can I go swimming again?"

Do You Know What I Just Realized?

Today is my One Year Blogger Anniversary! And what better way for me to celebrate...but to join MySpace! One more thing for my husband to tease me about. Not only am I a "Mommy Blogger", but now I am a "MySpacer".

So, how else should I celebrate? Any suggestions?

Wordless Wednesday -

What Happens When You Sleep Around



(Forgive My Warped Sense Of Humor!)

Will Gustav Be A Gentleman Hurricane?

Or will he be a scoundrel and visit Sunny, FL just in time to ruin our Holiday Weekend?

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday - Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork Sandwiches

So last week when I was taking a ride on the Blog Train, I came across this blog that has a Tempt My Tummy Tuesday. Thought it was a great idea because not only am I always looking for new recipes to try, but sometimes this blog just needs a different type of post.

So, here is my current favorite recipe.

~~~

Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork Sandwiches
(from Campbell's Kitchen)

Prep Time: 15 min. Cook Time: 8 hr. Stand Time: 10 min.

1 tbsp. vegetable oil
3 1/2- to 4-pound boneless pork shoulder roast, netted or tied
1 can (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell's(R) Condensed French Onion Soup
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup cider vinegar
3 tbsp. packed brown sugar
12 round sandwich rolls or hamburger rolls, split

Directions:

Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork and cook
until it is well browned on all sides.

Stir the soup, ketchup, vinegar and brown sugar in a 5-quart slow cooker. Add
the pork and turn to coat.

Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 9 hours* or until the pork is fork-tender.
Remove the pork from the cooker to a cutting board and let stand for 10
minutes. Using 2 forks, shred the pork. Return the pork to the cooker.
Divide the pork and sauce mixture among the rolls.

*Or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours.

~~

The kids love it and it is so easy!

Am I The Only One That Had A Friday Like This?

After having a relatively uneventful morning, Bryleigh & I were getting ready to load up in the Jeep and head over to pick up Great Grandma. The plan was to surprise Kyla by having Mom Mom Mom in the front seat. Then we were going to have a late lunch and order the cupcakes for her Hannah Montana Yoga Birthday Party.

Well before any of this could happen, the phone rang. It was the school nurse, telling me that I needed to pick Kyla up right away and take her to the doctor. She had put an un-popped kernel of popcorn in her ear! So, while I was making the "mad dash" to school, I call ahead to the pediatrician to tell them to prepare for the extraction. Then I had to cancel with Great Grandma.

It started sprinkling as I came to a screeching halt in front of the school. (Darned Tropical Storm Fay! When will you go away?) I practically ripped Bry out of her car seat and made the crazed mommy dash to the Nurse's Office. I got the "Oh that was your daughter" look for everyone in the office while waiting for the nurse to bring my injured baby to me.

My tiny Kindergartner peeked around the corner and looked at me with sad, teary eyes..."Are you upset with me, Mommy?"

The nurse pulled me to the side and said, "You have a smart little girl there."

I replied that I know...but she said it again, "No, I mean you really have a smart little girl there."

Then she starts telling me about her time with Kyla...and how Kyla asked her several times if she was upset with her and if she was in trouble because she had put a popcorn kernel in her ear when she knew that it was not suppose to go there. She told me that I had my hands full with her.

During the "way over the speed limit" drive to the doctor's office, I asked what made her think to do something like she. And do you know what she said?

"My brain made me think to do it..." and then she started to whimper. The pressure was starting to build up and the anxiety level was increasing. So, what's a mom to do?

Take pictures to make her unhappy pumpkin smile...



Not even a smile as we wait at the traffic light.



"This is the ear that hurts. Can you see it, Mommy?"



"I can hold really still for the doctor."



And here is the problem. Look how big that sucker is!

Kyla asked if she could keep it. She wanted to take it to Show & Tell.



"Look, I can make music with it too!"



Now my little princess is much happier! And Mommy has to have a little talk with her about not putting anything else in her ears.

Hope you all have a much better Friday than me!

UPDATED - Happy Birthday To You...

Happy Birthday To You...
Happy Birthday To My Baby Pumpkin Kyla...
Happy Birthday To You!



I cannot believe that it has been 5 years since you made your way into the world and captured the hearts of your daddy and me.

We are blessed by you.

~~~

Just had to add these photos of the birthday girl as she left for school this morning. She was channeling her inner super model!

Wordless Wednesday

Bored Because Of Fay -

and the kids are getting cabin fever...No school wasn't the most brilliant idea for today. It probably should have been cancelled for tomorrow. We have been outside riding bikes and swimming...but plan to come inside when the wind starts to gust.



Still waiting while Fay takes her own sweet time...will probably get pretty nasty later tonight or tomorrow. She isn't a Hurricane, but she isn't a weak Tropical Storm either...

So, do you think they will cancel school tomorrow?

~~~

Not sure about the rest of you, but I am counting the days until College Football starts! Only 1 week and 4 days until the Gators play their first game...against Hawaii...so when I saw this on ClemsonGirl's Blog...well, I had to borrow it...

So, Roll Call! Which team does your household cheer for on Saturdays? Try not to be too surprised by my answers...

CONFERENCE - The one and only conference that counts...SEC!

SCHOOL - University Of Florida

MASCOT - Gators

TRADITION - Albert & Alberta, The Swamp, Mr. Two-Bits, "We Are The Boys", & The Gator Chomp!

BIGGEST RIVAL - In state would have to be Half A$$ed Who (aka FSU). As for biggest conference rival, its a toss up between UGA, UT, & LSU.

Now, I just have to say this...# 5 in the Preseason Polls!

Can I hear "It's Great To Be A Florida Gator!"

BREAKING NEWS -

No school tomorrow...thanks to "Soon-To-Be" Hurricane Fay. (Atleast we got the First Day under our belt...)



Looks like the Hurricane Party with be as Scarlet O'Kara's!

My Daughter...The Kindergartner...

still cannot believe that my first born is old enough to be in Kindergarten. Wow! Where did the time go?

Last night, we had a special dinner to celebrate her last day as a Preschooler. Daddy grilled chicken and then we made a spinach salad. According to Kyla, "It was real yummy!" She also ate a huge piece of brownie before putting on her jammies and heading off to bed. After that, Brad & I made sure that everything was ready so that the morning rush wouldn't be so crazy.

Kyla must have had some jitters because she woke up early after having a nightmare about snakes. (As much as we have tried to avoid it, looks like she has inherited Daddy's fear of snakes and Mommy's fear of spiders.)



She was a little out-of-sorts to begin with...



But perked up once the "First Photos" began...



Then we loaded up the Jeep and off to school we went.



She even called Mom Mom & Papa to let them know that she was on her way to school! Loved hearing her excited voice...sounding so grown up.

The goal was to be up at 6...dressed and out the door by 7:15...and at school by 7:30 in order to have breakfast together before walking to her classroom by 8. Sounds like a great plan, but being the novice parents of a child in Elementary School...we didn't take into consideration that all the other mommies & daddies would also want to follow that same routine.

After half an hour in traffic trying to get into the parking lot, we quickly walked her to class. No leisurely breakfast today. Good thing she had eaten some chocolate chip muffins in the car.



She was such a brave girl. No tears...no quivering voice...just her tiny hand holding tightly to daddy's.

We did our hugs and kisses out in the hallway...



after all, she isn't a baby anymore...



can't let her new classmates see her do that!

Then we stepped inside the classroom.



The uncertainty returned...



until KK turned around...



When we last saw her, she was busy at her spot...surrounded by new friends.



(Did you notice that the three little girls near her all wearing practically the same outfit!)

Now, I am sitting at home. Bryleigh and Kadence are napping and Mommy is sad...missing my Kyla-girl.

How long before I can pick her up?

Fay...Fay...Go Away!

'Cause School Starts On Monday!



Wish us luck! Kyla is so excited!

Wordless Wednesday - Just A Sleepy Morning

I'm Back...

with more news about my Aunt. The oncology report is in and she does have bone cancer. It appears to be localized in the vertebrae that was partially removed and thankfully is the type of cancer that responds very well to radiation. (Thank Heaven for that!)

She has been told to recover and rehab until her next appointment with the surgeon on the 22nd. After the medical release, she has to visit the Oncologist for a Bone Marrow test. As long as the cancer is not present in her marrow, then the Radiation treatments should be all that she needs.

Thank you all again from the bottom of my heart for the prayers and kind words of encouragement. I have shared them with my Aunt and she is most grateful.

I will be back again tomorrow with a light-hearted post. So much has happened that I need to share.

Ta-ta for now and go hug your loved ones.

Just Talked To My Aunt

and she is in wonderful spirits. The surgery went well and the broken vertebrae was successfully removed. Malignancy was found, but to the best of their knowledge, it has not metastasised. That is fabulous news! She is suppose to receive a visit from an Oncologist today to discuss how to proceed with treatment.

Besides that visit, her big plans are to get out of bed and try to walk. Walking helps with the healing process as well as makes her release from the hospital a faster reality. Her hope is to be allowed to go home tomorrow or Saturday.

She wants me to thank each and everyone one of you for all of your wonderful prayers and warm wishes. It really does make her feel so much stronger to know that so many people are lifting her up with their healing prayers.

Thank you all again from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to help my family. Now I am going to sign off from my computer for a little bit to spend some quality time with my loved ones. I will be back soon...

Hugs...

Prayers And Warm Thoughts Request - (UPDATE)

I would like to ask for some prayers and warm thought for my Aunt Mary Ann.


[This is a picture of her braiding Kyla's hair shortly after Bryleigh was born]

For the past 7+ months, she has been having some problems with her back. She has gone to alot of Doctors appointments without no real success.

This past Sunday, she could not get up and was in a great amount of pain. After an hour of not being able to move, my Uncle called EMS. They took her to the local Emergency Room where she was examined and finally admitted to the hospital for further tests.

Yesterday, several rounds of tests were performed, including a CT Scan. It was determined that she (in my Aunt's words) "broke her back", but there is concern that cancer may also be part of the problem. A 45 minute MRI was scheduled, but she is claustrophobic and could not handle it. From what my Uncle says, it has been rescheduled, probably for today, and she will be sedated during the process.

Back Surgery has also been scheduled for tomorrow at noon. Hopefully the broken bone(s) situation will be corrected and the search for Cancer will be negative.

I have been told that she is in good spirits, has good color and is thinking positively, but still has breakthrough pain between her medications.

Please pray for her safe and speedy recovery as well as relief from the pain. She recently retired from her job with plans of relaxing at home, enjoying her grandchildren, and taking care of her mother (my grandma) who just moved in.

I will try to post an update as soon as I get one.

Thanks in advance for all of your time.

The power of prayer is an awesome thing!


(Just wanted to give out a quick update...as of right now, we are still waiting for news. I will post as soon as I hear something. Please continue to pray. When I told my Aunt about all the wonderful comments and prayer around the world for her...she started to cry. Thank you all so much!)

Before I Try This...

I just want to know if anyone else has tried it, much less even heard of it?

~~~

During a browse on Another Online Mom's site, I came across this recent post and stopped cold in my tracks. Could this possible work?

Not sure about the rest of you, but I am not the type of mom to have lots of time on my hands to go out and have someone else pamper me. I usually shower when the girls are sleeping and give myself a quick clear polish pedicure so that you cannot see the mess-ups...so if this stuff



works on removing unwanted body hair in very sensitive places without the need for sharp blades and itchy, ingrown hairs...I will be one happy lady!

You are suppose to take some of the powder and mix it with a little water until it forms a thick past. Then you spread it on the treatment area and let it sit for five minutes. Next, you take a spoon and scrape it off...leaving behind super smooth skin with no razor burn.

Should I try it? Or should I wait to hear back from Another Online Mom about her experience or wait and see if some blog lurker comments with her story.

Wonder if it will also work on underarms, legs, etc?

I hear that you can get it pretty cheap in the hair color section of places like Target and Walmart. I have also heard that it smells pretty bad, but doesn't Nair!?!

Blog Train Tuesday - (Updated)

Care to join us?

I learned about it from this post...and then had to head over to here and here to get all the necessary details and directions.

So, now that you know the background, are you jumping on board too?



And for all of my Blog Train Guests...

Sit down for a glass of wonderful tasting Southern Sweet Tea



and some yummy Homemade Cheese Straws



while you read a little about me.

Two Weeks From Today...

my first born baby girl will be enjoying her first day of Kindergarten...and I will be crying my eyes out!

Recently, we attended Kindergarten Round-up where she was able to visit the school and meet some of the teachers. During the event, she enjoyed sitting at a desk...



as well as some circle time...



I begged & pleaded with the principle to ensure that her cousin, K-K, is in the same class. Figured that it would make the transition a little easier for the two of them. I only had to agree to be the Class Mom, as well as volunteer for PTA duty.

Poor Kadence is going to be as sad as I am with the older kids being back in school.



Guess that means that Bryleigh, her, & I will have to join a local MOMs Club to keep us busy while class is in session.



Can you believe that three out of the five kids will now be in Elementary School? Where did the time go?