He Loves Me for Who I Am.

And that's all I'm gonna say about that.

One year with My Best Friend!

It’s hard to believe that about one year ago I was a single guy kicking it single with my chocolate lab and bachelor pad complete with no groceries and a set of mismatched furniture that only a kid in college would love. September 30, 2006 I married my best friend and my life has only gotten better. It has been a great first year and I am so happy that Michelle is the lady that God chose me to marry. I am looking forward to what He has in store for us in the years to come.

Thank you best friend for your love, your routines, keeping our animals healthy, keeping our castle orderly, being a great daughter and sister in law to my family, making me smile, and having a great attitude and outlook on life. Thanks for lifting me up and pointing me away from myself and towards God. I love you.



It hasn’t been moonlight and roses every day, but even the bad days are ok.....

.....and overcome with some help from our friends.

Happy Anniversary Best Friend!

This Time A Year Ago....

Many wonderful things were happening!

War Eagle! or something....

This Saturday, we trekked to the Auburn Game. Mr. C and Mrs. S, friends of ours, had tickets in the scholarship section (see a more devoted football fan for information on what that is/means), a means of comfortable transportation and a smorgasbord of food for tailgating. I was very worried about going because of how the AU season has progressed thus far. And, as we all know, football is king in the Deep South. It dictates what you wear, who you are, who your close friends are and how the rest of your week goes after Saturday. So, if the outcome is bad: (AU looses to a "high school" team, Bama beats a fairly good team) I have an unhappy husband. If AU wins and Bama looses I have an agreeable husband who gives shoulder massages, washes dishes and vacuums the kitchen floor. I kid, it is not that dramatic for me, but truly is for some. Sam had a great time, as did I. It was a fairly exciting game with a good outcome.

Shown below are Sam and Mr. C at the tame (good for me!) tailgating party. The food was great, by the way. AND they had caramel cake for dessert. You just can't beat a good caramel cake.

This is when the "War Eagle" bird thing flew in. It actually is really cool. The raptor flies into the stadium and circles, then lands on this thing, which I think it suppose to look like its dinner. I think the bird/raptor is named "Nova" something. Again, consult your local football expert for more detailed/accurate information on how it all happens.

For a non SEC opponent, the stands were packed. Sam tells me that when the stadium is full, Auburn is the 4th largest city in Alabama. If you don't count permanent residents, it is the fifth largest in population size. I think there were 20 New Mexico State fans there. I can tell, because, when the Aggies scored, only about 5 or so people twirled some white towels around.

Not only are the games a show were you can display your fashion prowess and clothing monetary value by trying to put an orange and navy blue outfit together without looking like you got in between a fight with Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams, they are also a place where you do your best to turn your small child into either a future Quarterback or bouncy cheerleader. This starts from the moment a child is known to be conceived. Once they are born, rip the blue or pink beanie hat off and put an AU one on. Take 50 or so pictures with the various relatives. Then, buy bibs, onesies, orange and blue bows, shakers, tigers and anything else you can find. Don't forget the lilliputian sized jerseys and cheerleader dresses. Oh, and make sure everything is monogrammed with the child's nickname or initials. This continues until the boy child is old enough to care what goes onto his body. He is then given a baseball cap and a larger jersey. For the little girls, it changes when the little cheerleader dress will no longer fit, or you have another little sister that throws a tantrum unless she gets to wear it. No fear. She gets a monogrammed orange and blue purse and every hair ribbon imaginable in the same colors as well as her choice of tiger rags tee shirts.

This little cutie below danced the night away the ENTIRE time she was in the stadium without stopping. Even when she fell off her seat, she hopped back up and incorporated that move into her routine. She did her best to imitate the cheerleader and dance team moves, but when they weren't energetic enough for her, she made up her own.

This other little tiger got into it in the 3rd quarter and did her best to follow the cheerleaders. It was so sweet. During each routine, she would turn around to check and see if daddy was watching. After her moments in the spotlight, she would hug her daddy and ask him to watch her next time and give him high fives and kisses. She was about 4 years old. Cock your head to the side and watch!

Yes, I did enjoy a football game. It was hard not to bust out the purple and gold and yell, Geaux Tigers (as in LSU)! I was glad to go and make my husband happy. (he's not shorter than me, just standing on a lower step here)

Thanks Mrs. S and Mr. C for the tickets, wonderful company and a great time!!!

Dirty Laundry

This, too is NOT a family-friendly post.

I need to say something, and, this being my space (really, my family's, but I am the only one who writes) I am going to say it.

I am not having a good day and I am going to tell you why, because I need to get it out and my husband's in a meeting, my mom is on an airplane and my available friend is either nursing a baby or putting a toddler down for a nap. YOU get to hear it. Yay for poor you.

1. I did not appreciate the perfectly sane/sober woman urinating/defecating on my neighbor's private property close to the side walk (see post below).

2. I did not appreciate the policeman bringing her to my home where she could see me, the person who called the police, and know where I live. I do appreciate them picking her up, though.

3. I have gained 30 pounds over the past 2 years. I am WELL aware of it.

4. I do not appreciate people talking to EACH OTHER about my weight. STOP. It is not your problem. I'm still the same person. I just like peanut butter more than I used to and I cook full meals at night. Since there is another income in the house, I actually have money for food, which I did not before. Hence, the weight gain.

5. Starting a new business is completely new to me and it will TAKE TIME for me to adjust to it. I am LEARNING something NEW. Be patient. Thanks. Come again soon.

6. I do not appreciate the people of the State Licence Department accusing me of doing something illegal. My business will start October 1st. Though I have several commissions, I have collected no money. NONE. DON'T charge me a "reduced"fee of 47.00 for 10 days of business just because I forgot to put the start date on there and the fiscal year begins on October the 1st at which time I will pay 62.00. And don't be ugly to me. Don't. You'll catch more flies with honey than you will vinegar. Take that. Meanie pants.

7. Though you may think I look pregnant, I am not. Please, don't ask me when I am due UNTIL I tell you I am expecting. It goes best in that order. Me: I'm expecting! "You": Great! When are you due?

8. I may never loose any of this weight. Love me like I am or leave me alone. I am responsible for my health, including what I put in my body and when I exercise. Not you.

9. My house has lots of animal hair in it. It always will no matter how often I clean. I bet my sink is a heck of a lot shinier than yours, though. Humpf.

10. I am human and make mistakes. So do you and everyone else, but I don't let it bother me.

10. I am not an angry person. I am a content person with frantic times, sad times, mad times, etc. I am complicated, but not your lab rat. Don't analyse me or pick this post apart and make a judgement call on who I am or who I have become or what you think I am trying to say. I'm not tyring to say something. I have said it.

11. I am aware that there are two number 10s and that this should be number 12. Does it really matter?

(p.s. my wonderful husband has not committed any of the above mentioned offenses - he is my best friend, just in case he wonders!)

OK. I think I am done with my anger today. I feel much better and I'm ready to go to the grocery and run errands when the laundry's done.

I'll end on something cute and positive. Have a great day!

A Perfect "Sit" - Baby Ella Bella Bean - 6 mos.

Lil' Henri - approx. 4 mos.

Cute boy Nephew # 2 - May/June '07

Cute and Crazy boy nephews #'s 1 & 2 - June '07

Well, Art You Cute?!

For those of you who do not know, I will be giving art lessons to one little student (who will remain anonymous on this blog) in October! It is exciting for me, because it will allow me to really examine art and its technique, which I studied, but came naturally to me. I do enjoy teaching and children, so throwing in a little paint and creativity will be fabulous!

Here she is painting a butterfly in my studio - we did a trial run to see if this energetic little girl would be able to handle sitting still. She had to ask me about the cereal I ate, clear up confusion about what I actually did for a living, find out where Mr. Sam was, see if I had made any progress on the dollhouse and find out what Lil' Henri was doing. Once she determined that all was OK at my little house, we got down to business. Needless to say, she did great! Don't you love the frog painting, below?

I'll keep you posted on future projects (currently, I am not accepting any other students, by the way) and paintings - maybe even some of my own!

I am facing down a poodle portrait, and I WILL win!

Beware: A Rather Negative Post Ahead...

I'm not very good with talking about it, so I suppose spilling my guts to an audience of few, if any (other than my mom - Hi, Mama!), might be easier.

Sam and I have been holding on to hope, for lack of a better family-friendly word, and it keeps eluding us. I think it bothers me a little more since it mainly concerns my body and how I care for it. I know we haven't been "hoping" for more than 3 or 4 months, but I just felt like it would happen easily. It seems that almost everyone we know had it "happen" by accident, much earlier than expected. Those that didn't have it just "happen," can't. Ever. Their hope is gone. Maybe that's why it bothers me so much. I am afraid that as regular and predictable as I am, I have fallen into this category. To further that anxiety, I feel like this may be some sort of punishment to me. It also reveals a blatant lack of patience that I have and a painful absence of faith.

I have been trying to "eat well" and not participate in activities such as horseback riding. I'm taking vitamins as if they were magic pills. I'm doing my best to keep myself calm. I just don't know what I should and should not be doing at this point.
I know, I know, God is in control. I do believe that, but there is also this very human part of me that thinks I can and wants to influence the outcome. I "try not to think about it." But, really. How can you not? It would be like telling Ralphie in "The Christmas Story" not to think about the possibility of getting a Red Ryder BB gun in the month of December. Just don't stress, Ralphie. Don't worry. Don't be all consumed by thoughts of a BB gun like your Dad and the Leg Lamp. See what'll happen?

I can't put it out of my head right now. Everyone else seems to have just had one. They're coming out of the woodwork... initials embroidered on burp cloths, smocked Feldman Brothers outfits and all. Oh, and mini-Crocs. Don't forget the mini-Crocs. I melt into a puddle of slush when I see them.

I want to whine and cry and cover up with a quilt, eat chocolate and be sad on the couch while watching Oprah and Judge Mathis, but at the same time (especially on a day like today), I feel like I need to buck up and stop being such a baby - truly, no pun intended. It is a little hard not to think about it when your body feels exactly opposite of what you want. It is a throbbing reminder of 4 Advil every 4 hours, or ELSE. And you ladies know what "ELSE" feels like.

I want everyone around me and I want to be alone at the same time. Yes, I am being dramatic, but my hormones are raging like a pregnant woman, except I'm not. I'm "older" than the average mother and Sam and I are not progressing towards youth. I'm so afraid it will never happen. And there is no one who can promise me that it ever will.



All that to say, there's no baby. Again.





Thanks for listening. I'll feel better tomorrow. But don't laugh at me if you see me carrying a sixteen pound cat around in a Baby Bjorn.

What We Did on Labor Day

Sam, Ella and I travelled down to Florida to visit my parents (and meet my Dad's new child) for Labor Day weekend. We had a good time visiting and the new boat was very nice. Ella liked it because she could get on and off very easily and run this way and that inside.

Ella and Our Boat-Warming Present

We went to dinner the first night at the marina restaurant, and Ella was invited! We ate outside, however, which was fine except for the bugs. I don't think they ate anyone else for dinner but me! I counted, and I have 22 mosquito bites on my feet. Oh, the irony!!! I'm not kidding about the numbers and location! Anyway, the owner of the restaurant (who was eating with us) ordered Ella a hamburger steak! She LOVED that! He also hand fed her ice cream from a cup. Needless to say, Ella had a great time. She was well behaved as always.

Sam at the Helm of the New Boat

We also took the boat out for a run so that my parents could get used to it and Ella could try out her new life jacket. She did not want to jump into the water at all. I got in, and then she finally took the plunge after I called to her and swam away. It was a bit manipulative on my part, but I thought she would enjoy it once she got in. Wrong. She didn't realize that the life jacket would support her, which I understand. There's no way you can explain that to a dog. She also couldn't get in and out by herself, which I think was the biggest concern of hers. She was cute, though!

I LOVE My New Life Jacket, Mom!

No, I really don't think I want to go in...

Once we got back to the marina, I took her down to a little sand bar right off the dock, and tossed a squeaky toy to her for a while. This was probably her favorite part of the whole trip, other than the steaks, table scraps and ice cream. She loves the water, but ONLY if she can choose to get in and out very easily at her own pleasure.

Take THAT ya Little Life Preserver!!!

Yeah, it is a little nuts that I have a dog that I bring to restaurants and buy a life jacket for, but I don't have kids of my own, just a really great dog.

Thanks to my parents and the owners of the Oyster Bar Marina for a great weekend. Ella wants to know if she can spend her summers there from now on!

I Lied....

I'm sorry. I know I said before that this blog was changing direction and it was going to be different than I intended, but I lied. Well, not really. I just changed my mind again.

This is a family blog, with family content, pictures and the like. No profound or deep thoughts here. This blog will be filled with typos, misspellings, and tons of information about my beloved husband and animals that you never, ever wanted to know unless you are my mom.

On the off chance that I feel I have something of significance to say or a deep thought rolling around in my head, I'll post it on my old blog. If I knew how to link to things, I would put a link right here with the URL of that one. Sorry. I guess you'll just have to find it on your own.

Now, I'm not saying there's going to be a creative circus going on over there. Any creative energy I have is currently dedicated to my artwork, figuring out how to get Hershey to stink and drool less, how to remodel my entire house for under $100.00, and resisting the urge to buy 20 pregnancy tests at the Dollar Tree. So, if I have some left over, I stick something over there... or maybe I'll finish one of my old stories.

Oh, and by the way, this is me as a Simpson's character. Sam picked out the dress though. It's really not my taste, but you know...

It Drives Me Crazy!

Sam and I took a little road trip to Florida this weekend, and it got me thinking about all of the strange activities we do while driving, some of the things I have done that I shouldn't have and some of the strange things I have witnessed. Not all of them are unbelievable.
Some of the multitasking that I shouldn't have done while behind the wheel include, but are not limited to: eating chicken sandwiches, searching for something in a bag lost somewhere in the backseat and talking on my cell phone (which I now make a point of NOT doing).

There are also the unfortunate everyday activities people participate in doing while driving that annoy and frighten me: Applying lipstick, acting like the car is a mosh pit while making a dangerously sharp curve in the rain, turning around to face the children in the back seat and talk to them about something in length, letting precious little "Fluffy" try her paws at the wheel since the driver cannot see around the dog's puffy head, someone making the car swerve, stop suddenly, etc. to impress a female passenger, making out with the passenger while driving and so on and so on.

However common all of this may be, I have some new (odd) no-nos that drivers commit while operating a moving vehicle:

1. Finding directions on a Blackberry when lost (I'm sorry, dear, but the irony was just too much!)
2. Having a conversation on the phone via text message (do you really need to do this as you drive? Really?)
3. Untangling about 25 feet of telephone wire, then winding it around your right hand (I am still wondering about this one...could it not wait?)
4. Reading the newspaper on the interstate (this guy almost ran me off the road and never once looked up from his paper!)
5. Plucking eyebrow hairs (this one floored me...I mean, not only are we putting ourselves in great danger, but the end result could NOT have been good!)

I'm sure these are not the only oddities on the road today. What have you seen (let's keep it PG-13, please) lately?