Daniel's New Ride

Daniel got a new toy! He's so happy!  He and Ashlyn went "riding around" on the tractor yesterday... I can't wait to see what our land looks like all cleaned up!! Daniel has a lot of work cut out for him...

So Helpful!

I ended up being on my feet for a majority of the afternoon/ evening yesterday.  I pulled up my pants leg and looked down and said- "holy crap- I'm losing my ankles."  Ashlyn, of course, said, "Mom, your ankles can't disappear- you wouldn't be able to walk."  "You'll understand what I mean when you grow up and have babies of your own and your feet swell like mine do," I told her.   She then ran to her room and got her pedicure supplies and gave mama a total foot rubdown.  She is AWESOME.  She takes such good care of me!! (She also informed me that from now on, every day when she gets home from school she is going to do her homework, eat a snack, then rub and lotion my feet.  I wonder if she will remember that when she gets home today...)

(yep- that's my baby... she refuses to wear pants at home)

Happy Ash Wednesday!

My birthday was a total success yesterday.  Dinner at the Mexican restaurant was amazing!! Ashlyn also made me another card!! I also got another gift certificate for the other hallway runner rug that I've been wanting.  Oh and Ashlyn also gave me $10.  She wanted Daniel to buy me some jewelry with it, but Daniel had to explain to her that there was nowhere in Decatur to buy me some jewelry! So she gave me the $10 instead.  Isn't she sweet??  Here's our pic before bedtime last night-

Yesterday was great, today however.... well, I can't seem to get off of Ebay.  But I sure do hope I win.  Daniel may need to hide his credit card.  And Abel left before the thunderstorms started yesterday afternoon.  He was gone all night.  And still not back.  He is going to need 3 baths when he returns because there is nothing but mud and standing water outside of our house right now.  He's in big trouble when he comes home!
I've decided not to even attemp to go to Ash Wednesday Mass in Meridian tonight because, well, there is a bit of flooding going on in Meridian.  Nothing too serious, but streets covered in water, etc.  And it will be dark at 6:30 when I get there.  And I have poor luck.  And I won't be able to see.  Do Methodist churches have Ash Wednesday services with the full out ashes on the forehead thing? Maybe I'll see about going to the Methodist church in Decatur tonight instead.  It's a lot closer.  I'll make a call.  p.s.- they should consider building a Catholic church in Little Rock just for me.
Sorry, Daniel, but today also marks day 1 of me giving up potatoes for lent!! This coming from a girl who wants french fries every other day, and mashed potatoes the other days.  Things may get ugly.  Along with my giving up something, I am going to 'add' something- walking every day for the next 40 days.  Instead of walking/ working out my usual 4 days a week, I'm gonna make it 7 days a week.  Wish me luck.  I can just walk instead during my usual Ebay time.  Who am I kidding- I can't give up Ebay.  But I will keep up with exercising 7 days a week.  

A Very Happy Morning!!

Well, it's my birthday... and here are my birthday presents proudly displayed on the fridge!

1) A 'gift certificate' to dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant tonight!!

2) A beautiful picture Ashlyn made on the computer and colored at Daniel's office!!

3) A 'gift certificate' for a shopping trip!! (Now I really can't wait for our trip to Memphis!)

My family knows me very well- I love to eat!! And I love to buy new clothes!! (And this belly is needing some new clothes...)  Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Weekend Update

Overall, we had a fantastic lazy weekend! Saturday was spent indoors, out of the thunderstorms, on the floor playing games.  Daniel and I also bought 2 Mario Brothers games on the WII.  The 1st one and the 3rd one.  SO. MUCH. FUN.  My thumbs were numb by Saturday night from playing.  Eventually, though I am going to have to give it up and let Ashlyn actually have a turn to play.  Oh yeah- we also cooked a fabulous deer roast Saturday!! I forgot to take pictures of it.. it looked and tasted so, so good.  I also paired it with some good home-made mashed potatoes.  Daniel reminded me the other day that it is almost Lent and I am giving up potatoes in all forms this year.  So, everything that is potato that I can find in my house will be eaten by Wednesday. (I know, I know- Daniel and Ashlyn aren't giving up potatoes, but if I can't have them, no one can!)  Sunday wasn't so bad, either.  Ashlyn dressed herself for church again, and it only took her 3 tries before getting her outfit/ jewelry right.  After church, we had brunch at Weidmann's again!!! It's still my favorite!! Also, how many 7 year olds do you know go to a restaurant and order eggs benedict with roasted pork loin?  I'm so glad I taught her about good food at a young age, but I have a feeling this may get expensive- every now and then I'm hoping she will ask for a happy meal, rather than takeout from Giardnia's.  After brunch, we checked out the estate sale in Meridian- only we were way too late.  There was nothing left.  We figured no one would have gone Saturday because of the nasty weather, but I guess we were wrong!  After that we took our once every other week Walmart trip.  And we always leave wondering how we spent so much- does everyone go to Walmart and leave shocked when they get their total?? I would believe so.  Thank goodness we don't go once a week!! Otherwise, I would need a job very badly!  Sunday evening was spent back on the floor playing games.  I am the Uno champion, by the way- Daniel just can't win!! And sorry again, but I just never picked up my camera this weekend! But I do have a picture of a new painting for the house. Ashlyn wanted a pretty picture with decorations hanging on it... so this is what she gets-

OMG Moment

I got to go to school today to read Dr. Suess books to Ashlyn's class.  Today was the kickoff for 'Read Across America' and they combined it with celebrating Dr. Suess's birthday which was this past Wednesday.  Ashlyn's school's goal is to read 14,000 books by May 6th.  14,000 sounds like a lot, but that's what Ashlyn said.  I had to explain to her that it was not expected of her to read 14,000 books all by herself.  Anywho, I was there reading right before their lunch time, so I joined the first graders for lunch in the cafeteria.  While Ashlyn and I were chatting and eating, I asked her to point out different people in her class so I could put faces with names. (You know, like the 5 boys she has a crush on, the girls in her "group", who the mean girls are, etc..) (And Daniel made me promise before I left not to say anything to the mean girls because he knows how I can be...)  This was the moment when I was pretty much introduced to Ashlyn's boyfriend.  She said, while pointing at him across the table,"and that's Jake."  All I got from him was a blank stare.  And what did Ashlyn want from me- a "nice to meet you"?  I don't think so.  This little boy thinks he's my baby's "boyfriend".  Not if I have anything to do about it.  She then told me that she wrote him a note saying that she liked him and he wrote her a note back saying he liked her to.  So that makes him her boyfriend.  I asked Ashlyn to explain to me what 'like' meant but she couldn't give me a straight answer.  I'll let her continue with this little game for now- as long as nothing too serious comes from it.  Oh- the only remotely cute thing about this whole situation is that Jake has red hair, too.  After lunch, I left Ash to go back to her classroom, then I made the 20 minute drive back to Little Rock with 1000 thoughts going through my mind.  I couldn't wait to get home and tell Daniel about everything that I just experienced.  He met me with the same old "you're over-reacting" look.  Who me? Never.  When Ashlyn finally got home from school, I asked her if she had this so called note from Jake stating that he liked her.  Much to my surprise, she had it in her backpack AND she actually let me read it. And take a picture of it for my blog!  Sadly, after reading the note, I've decided to tell Ashlyn she has to break up with this kid.  He can't spell.

"I Liice You 2"



A Lazy Friday Night..

Since it's raining outside, and isn't planning on stopping all weekend, we are having a very lazy weekend! So far, I've eaten this (thank you, thank you, thank you, Daniel!!!)

And Ashlyn and Abel are doing this-

I plan on joining them shortly after Daniel finishes the deer burgers!!
Have a happy, lazy weekend everyone!