3 Things and 3 Days of Rain

Three things:
1. Doing a little blog surfing while Hadley stalls for her Sunday nap and ran across a little joke. I think it is important no matter who you pull for in College Football to appreciate a pretty good joke even if your team is the joke! Found this one and it made me chuckle: How are Possums and Auburn alike? They play dead at home and get killed on the road!!!
2. Go to www.mylifetime.com and upload a picture of yourself, then play with the total beauty makeover, too funny!!!
3. Rain, Rain go away come again another day!! Daddy the pasture looks like a swamp and the horses look sad. Three straight days of rain, at least they have dry stalls to stand in!!

Who knew??

Tonight I took Hadley to see High School Musical 3. I really wasn't sure what to expect, she is extremely active but is such a couch potato when it comes to anything on the Disney channel. She had seen the first two here at home and danced through the better part of both. Wayne and I both explained to her that she had to sit quietly and couldn't say anything. On the way to the movie I was asking her if she knew what was going to happen, she had it all down and even knew we were suppose to get popcorn. She did really well and sat still through the whole thing. About half way through she climbed over in my lap and snuggled, so sweet. After the movie, I asked her what her favorite part of the movie was, "ummm, uhhh, ummm, uhhh the zebra, the lion and the giraffe and the hippo." You may be scratching your head at this point, we did go see HSM3 and none of these are in HSM3. They were in the previews for Madagascar2. Who knew there is someone in the world that enojoys the endless previews that play before the actual movie???

Alabamer Thanksgiving

We've just gotten back home from our trip home to Alabama, or Alabamer as Hadley has taken to calling it. The trip down was a slow go, I think everyone on earth converged on Atlanta Wednesday afternoon. We have never seen so much traffic and for so much of the drive. Below are a few snaps from our trip and from our visit with Santa in the Park this afternoon. First is Hadley and her Nana Vicki, in their "tent"on BellBell's bed. They were looking at bird books and Hadley was talking Nana Vicki's ears off.

I have no idea what she is doing here, I do know she thought she was the funniest thing pranking her PawPaw.

Anytime we go to Alabama, the thing Hadley looks forward to the most is playing tea with her PawPaw. He will sit there with her as long as she is interested.

PawPaw is teaching Hadley the proper way to hold a tea cup.

We had pictures in the Park with Santa this afternoon and Hadley did her part. She went right up and sat in his lap for her "official" photo, I am so pleased not to be a part of this year’s picture. Below are a few snaps of her in the park. Clearly, her sassy boots have gone to her head, what a little poser. The color is off in several of my photos, my camera was being very temperamental and I had to take what I could get.

***************** *****************

*****************

The North Pole

Last night we went to Stone Mountain and the girls had a blast. Hadley kept asking me if we were going to the North Pole, since Santa was going to be there. We saw a Christmas Show, ate a Holiday Meal, saw the Polar Express 4D Experience, visited with Santa Claus, made cookies in the Snow Angels Ice Castle and then watched the laser show. Hadley's favorite part was Santa Claus, she kept giving him hugs, it was so sweet. I know my favorite part was the Polar Express 4D Experience. We were on the second row and it was awesome!!!!!!! I grabbed Wayne several times because it startled me.

THE GIRLS ARE READY TO GO!

ARM IN ARM, LEADING THE WAY!

I love SANTA!

Cookie FUN!

YUMMY!!

Sweet Pink Elf

Thursday night, Wayne got the Christmas tree out and put it up for us. I got to work with my pink little elf and we now have our tree up and are ready for Christmas. Hadley was such a sweet little helper, so gentle with all of the breakable ornaments and all of them were her favorite. I can't wait for this holiday season. So much FUN!!!! Today we are off to Stone Mountain, Hadley and I are so excited, Wayne is a little less excited, but we will have a good time I'm sure.

Mama was right

My mama always told me that there ain't nothing wrong with writing a good old fashion letter if you have a problem and need it fixed. I have seen the fruits of her labor and am a believer. She once got our road paved with her letter writing campaign and media assault on our County Commissioners. Then there was the time the Uniden phone exploded and burnt a hole in the carpet, a well written letter and a few phone calls and the house was recarpted in exchange for the explosive phone.

With everything each of has going on, taking the time to write a letter isn't always feasible. There are too many companies turning a deaf ear, because let's face it there are a lot of people out there who want something for nothing, and therefore customer service ain't what it use to be. However, I made the time recently and not really because I expected something in return. I saw something and it disturbed me, many of you may find it amusing I was bothered by it, but I didn't think what I saw portrayed the chain in the light it should be and I thought Corporate should know. Paint me surprised with what happened next, customer service is alive a well and liquid goodness will be enjoyed by me.

Recently on a grocery expedition to Kroger with Wayne and Hadley (This could possibly be my least favorite activity in the whole world, Wayne's need to comparison shop and shift me to the Kroger Brand of Mac N Cheese when only Kraft will do and Hadley's inability to sit still, drive me absolutely mad, but that is a rant for another day.), Wayne offered to treat me to a Starbucks, I'm sure in an effort to make me more pleasant as he leisurely strolled the store comparison shopping. I accepted and off I went to Starbucks, so conveniently tucked in Kroger (I love this Marketing scheme, fabulous!!!) Anyhoo, I attempted to order my usual, a Cafe' Mocha with two extra pumps of Mocha and whip creme, the barista and I were having communication difficulties, as I spoke English and not his native youth muttering. You see he was an interesting sort, obviously interested in body art, but probably not old enough to commit to actual tattoos, as he had drawn all over himself with an ink pen. There were intricate designs up both of his arms, on his hands, and on his neck. It was clearly ink pen, it was smudged in many places. This fascination with ink pen art was not what caused me alarm, it was what I realized he had inked across his knuckles as he handed me my coveted Cafe' Mocha. Each knuckle contained a letter and when you put the letters together, they said DROP DEAD. Clearly, this was an individual with a lot to say and for a moment I paused, was I taking a drink of death. I am still here, so obviously not, and I couldn't let my Cafe' Mocha go to waste. So the following day, I crafted an e-mail to Corporate expressing my concern about how he was presenting himself to the Starbucks public and that I didn't think it reflected positively on the Company. Imagine my surprise when I got the below in the mail along with a real letter (not a form letter) from a real person apologizing and offering the enclosed two vouchers for two complimentary drinks of my choosing. Thank you Starbucks, for taking the time to read my letter and offer an apology, I certainly got a lot more than I expected and thank you Mama for teaching me a well crafted letter is not wasted. Liquid goodness, here I come!!!!!!!

Have any of you had a situation where you wrote a letter to a company and saw results?

My child

I've been home today, not feeling well and I've had a very educational day, Hadley has been with me. So you can guess what institution of higher learning I have been matriculating at today.

• My child has a medical degree and has diagnosed how to make my tummy feel better.
• My child can be hungry immediately following a waffle for breakfast and then ask for the next two hours, "what's for lunch?"
• My child is physically unable to keep her entire body still at any one time.
• My child knows what to do in a fire: 1. You call 9111111111.... 2. You stop drop and roll, 3. You crawl on the floor like a baby.
• My child thought there was a jelly conspiracy today when the jelly didn't jump out and bite her on the nose when she was looking for it in the fridge.
• My child must clap before she eats her Smarty candies.

I think my education must have paid off today; I spelled matriculate right without the aid of spell check.

Quick finish

We went to Jase's Birthday Party tonight at the skating rink. Hadley has been skating once before and wasn't that sure about it, so I didn't know if she would actually skate tonight. We put the skates on, we stepped on to the rink, we skated about ten feet and we were done. Yes, that's her taking off her skates. Then she saw "her BryBry" and she was hooked, then Mr. William picked her up and zipped around the rink with her backwards and she was totally hooked. Happy Birthday Jase!

YOU GO GIRL!!!

OFF NOW!!!!

MY BRYBRY!!

SKATING IS SO MUCH FUN!!

Thank you now get your tail back to Georgia

First a Thank you to Stacia for sprucing up my header picture. Love IT!!!! So wish I could tell the story on here of why I asked her to do what she did, but I'm afraid sharing the details here wouldn't be appropriate, let's just say there is a story about the law and my husband's CSI skills. So hysterically funny!!

It's official......

.........Christmas is here. What a fun way to start out the Holiday Season. Ms. Rachel is 1 and we got to go to her Birthday Party, a Christmas Themed Pottery Painting Good Time. Hadley created a beautiful masterpiece and she never broke her focus. Of course, what birthday party would be complete without a little icing fun, nothing sweeter than chocolate kisses. A car update: After the party we went car shopping, seriously this is one of my least favorite activities in the world. I didn't inherit the "haggle" gene from my mom. We were successful and I now have my own wheels again, another gold Camry. Hey when you like something, why change....go with what you know.

Upsized Taco

What a yummy little Taco, can I upsize my Taco?My how the Taco has changed.... still just as yummy!!!!!

Only this kind of taco is yummy, not the real kind. Real tacos are disguisting, all that stuff mixed together, makes me cringe just thinking about it. Yuck!!!!

Regression

Today is Thursday, Show N Tell day. We had some awesome arrowheads for Hadley to take; they are studying Native Americans this week. However, horrible mother that I am I forgot them. You see I was a little wrapped up in my own drama, it was raining today: Carrie did not want to get in the car, Carrie did not want to drive the car, Carrie did not want Hadley in the car, Carrie did not want to be on the road with Hadley in the car, I could go on and on, but I'll spare you. If your not understanding my freak out, it was raining Friday when I had my accident. Fear is not a pretty thing, and if you don't get back on the horse after it throws you, you won't ever get back on. I'm channeling my father at this point. I made it to work, but decided to forgo lunch, as it would involve going out, I'm not pleasant when I skip lunch!! Back to Show N Tell, I was expecting a mass freak out from Hadley, when she learned all her friends would be showing and telling, but she didn't have anything. I expected wrong. When I took Hadley out in the hall to explain I was very sorry, but I had forgotten her arrowheads at home, she sweetly responds, "That's alright mommy!" Wow what a mature little girl. Flash forward an hour and apparently there was an incident with one of her friends and a book, she wanted it, he wouldn't hand it over, so she bit him.

Seems she and I both have regressed a little today.....

You don't know a hard day

...and I thought I had a hard day until I brought Hadley in and she assumed this position as she watched Suite Life, absolutely pitiful!!!! No nap!!!! Someone will be going to bed early tonight!!!!
An update on the car front, it will be totaled; estimate of damages was $5500. We think this is the best thing in this situation, just not real thrilled with any of our prospects at this point. Again, we are just so very grateful the car took the brunt of the damage and Hadley and I are unhurt.

Crash Gordon

This is my sweet sweet girl, chillin' out tonight watching Hannah Montana. She is taking it easy after the drama of last night. We were on our way home and I came around a curve, the road was slick and my car didn't stay in the turn we went straight off the road, into a ditch and into a culvert. Hadley bit her tongue and I am now incredibly sore, but other than that the only damage was to the car. To look at the car, the damage looks fairly superficial, however it appears the radiator took a big hit and the entire frame of the car seems to be bent. We will now work it out with the insurance company. We are so very thankful that we are safe. It clearly made an impression on Hadley. Last night she slept with me (I wanted my baby girl close) and this morning I woke up to a sweet little hand on my cheeck. As soon as I opened my eyes she says, "Mama, why did you slide off the road, I was scared?"This picture cracks me up. She has a band-aid on her face, is it a Booboo from the accident? No, she and her plastic toy rake apparently had a discussion and the rake took a scratch at her. A very minor scratch, but she was almost as dramatic about the scratch as she was after the accident last night. No worries though, Dora cures everything.

Steaks good

Today was Show N Tell day at Hadley's school, today's theme: All things Pilgrim, bring something that shows a pilgrims way of life. Seriously, when are we pulling something out from under the bed? Oh wait, I have that Pilgrim costume under the bed that I was wearing last week, whatever. So I was struggling with what we can do, we were getting pretty close to it being a picture ripped out of a magazine. Amanda suggested a Bible, so now I needed to explain to Hadley. This is the conversation that followed:

Me: Hadley tomorrow for show and tell you are suppose to bring something that shows a pilgrims way of life. Have you been learning about pilgrims this week?
Hadley: Yes, pilgrims were here first.
Me: Do you know why pilgrims came to America?
Hadley: They didn't have buses or cars, they rode ponies!!!
Me: Yes, that's right. But the pilgrims came to the United States of America looking for religious freedoms, you could take a Bible to Show N Tell tomorrow.
Hadley: The Pilgrims came to the Nine Steaks of America?

I won't bore you with the rest of the conversation; let's just say we started over at the beginning.

We are so lucky to live in the Nine Steaks of America!!!!!

A Crazy Great Day

Okay, yes I know three posts in one day. CRAZY!!!! I am just so so totally excited. We went to Downtown Dalton's Open House this morning, which Hadley was less than thrilled about. After less than an hour of shopping we were on our second visit to the toy store to try to entertain her. She was on the sidewalk riding around on a tricycle and guess who comes walking down the street, SANTA. She begins to wave at him when she sees him, what happens next nearly sent me into shock!!! I said, "Hadley why don't you give him a hug?" She didn't scream in horror, she got off the tricycle, stretched her arms up in the air and let him pick her up, then gave him a huge hug. I was totally bummed I didn't have my camera, what are the odds I am going to miss this Kodak moment. But wait, I have my phone, I'll snap a picture on my phone, sure it will be grainy but I will have something to prove she let Santa hold her. Second shock of the day, my new phone actually takes pretty great pictures for a 2MP. I have high hopes that during our scheduled pictures with Santa later in the year, I will not be included!!!!!!

Boys are yucky

Conversatons with Hadley brighten my day and make me laugh, so I must share her latest insight.

Mommy: Hadley do you want to go shopping today?
Hadley: With who?
Mommy: You know who.
Hadley: BellBell and MoMo?
Mommy: Yes, and me too.
Hadley: Not Daddy!!! (insert scrunched up facial expression)
Mommy: No, not Daddy because boys are yuckghghgh.....(insert scrunched up facial expression)
Hadley: Yeah, boys are yucky because they poop!!!!!!
(It is at this moment that I double over in laughter.)
With the sweetest little voice,
Hadley: I'm sorry, I did not mean to say that.

The Dentist

Yesterday was Hadley's Fall Party at school, she was totally excited that she would have three visitors at her party. We had some Halloween scrubs that were passed down from McLain and I thought they would be the perfect costume for school. They were comfortable, no funky wings or halos to contend with!!! I asked Hadley if she wanted to be a Doctor or a Nurse, without hesitation she informed me she was going to be a Dentist. That works too!! Although, she ate like a Rock Star. All the other kids are up playing and walking around and Hadley is still sitting there eating and not just the sugar, more fruit please, more pigs in a blanket please, more chicken please, okay I guess I can eat my cupcake now. We went to Steak and Shake after the party, so Mom, Momo and I could eat and she ate half my meal too!!!

Hadley's Class Pumpkin Patch

I need a Hat!!!
Me and my BellBell

Icing GOOD!!!

MURTIS

This is our sweet Murtis, sunning outside yesterday. She is bob tail, black and adorable. A little black cat love on Halloween!!!