tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31087305098094895972023-11-16T00:01:43.658-08:00Miss Camera CrazyThis is a blog for my family and friends. I am creating it to showcase my photos and my scrapbook pages.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-11950722065549653082010-01-03T00:41:00.000-08:002010-01-03T00:51:47.449-08:00My Favorite new toyI have a "new" toy. It was a gift for my birthday from Steve and Wyatt. They bought me a Sony E-Reader. For those of you who do not know, it is the perfect gift for me. I can download electronic books to this device and read them just like a paperback book. I love to read. I have always loved to read. I can not remember a time in my life when I have had a book nearby to read. I would rather read than watch tv. I read fast, turning the pages, getting lost in the storyline, tuning out the real world. Did I mention I read FAST!!! On a good day, when I have nothing else to do, I can easily finish a book. Reading on vacation is great, I can read nonstop. BUT that tends to create a small problem when traveling. A person can only pack so many books before the weight pulls you down. <br /><br />Last summer, we were gone for a week. I read 7 books. I had to buy a new book to read on the way home. <br /><br />SO the e-reader is the perfect answer. I currently have 35 books on this device. It still boggles my mind, that I can pack around 35 books in one hand. Ohh, how happy this makes me. <br /><br />Shortly after getting this gift, we took a cruise. I brought 30 books on the e-reader. I was happy in the knowledge that I would not run out of reading material. I didn't run out of reading material, I ran out of battery power. ACK!!! Steve left the compter at home.SO I could not charge my ereader. SO first stop of trip, I was at a bookstore buying a couple of new books to read. This will not happen again as I have a wall charger now. <br /><br />But to really appreciate how much I love this device. I am wide awake at 2:30 in the morning. I finished my book. Still can't sleep. No worries. I just download a new book. AHHHH... life is sweet. I now have unlimited access to books 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year. Without having to put on clothes, and find a place that is open that sells books. Ohhh, yeah, Steve did good. This little device will be my favorite new toy for quite some time.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-56670008845330830712010-01-02T05:56:00.000-08:002010-01-02T06:04:29.513-08:002010 Word of the YearSimplify: to make simple, <br /><br />That's my word of the year. I tend to stress about things. We all do it. I tend to go overboard at times. Having people over for dinner? I feel like everything has to be perfect and better than it was the last time the company came over. Then I worry if everyone is having a good time. I need to stop that. I need to keep it simple. Not plan every last little detail. Fix a few things to eat, not 103,030 different things. <br /><br />Simplify: I need to streamline the house. We have too much junk. We don't have to have one of everything. Keep it simple. Only keep the things we really use and need. <br />We don't drink coffee. No need for a coffee maker for when we have company. I think I have used it ONCE for company since we bought it. It's out of here. Two rice cookers? Keeping the old one for steaming veggies? Takes up too much space. I can get rid of it, and buy a small collapsible steamer basket for when I steam veggies. Keep it simple.<br /><br />I do not need 4 sets of sheets for each bed. Two per bed. That's all I need. One clean set to replace the dirty set. Then wash the dirty set. Too much "stuff". <br /><br />Keep it simple. I need to remember that. Stop trying to do everything perfectly. Do my best, and live with the results. Don't overthink things and make it more complicated than it really is. <br /><br />If I can do that this year then I think I will have a lot less stress in my life. I think I will be able to enjoy my family and friends more. That's my word for the year. Now to live up to that word.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-17372482815884022372010-01-01T05:54:00.000-08:002010-01-01T05:58:26.732-08:00New Year's Eve 2009. What a great night we had. My cousin, Mike, invited us over to his house. It was his birthday/new year's party. Growing up the two of us were pretty much inseparable. My mom and his mom were best friends their whole lives and so the we naturally followed suit. But after marriage, work, raising families, we tended to not see that much of each other. I realized after meeting up again on Facebook that we hadn't seen each other in almost 16 years. That is entirely too long. His mom's funeral was the last time I had seen him. (oh how I miss her.) Granted he had moved out of state for a lot of that time. But he's back home now, and it felt soo right going over to his house (right next door to the house he grew up in), and watching our children run rampant over the same field we ran rampant over. There was a lot of talking, drinking, and laughing, and eating. It was hard to say good bye last night. I didn't want the night to end. <br /><br />To make the it even sweeter, his youngest son is now sleeping on my living room floor, camped out with wyatt. How many times in our childhoods, had the two of us done the same exact thing? It was incredible how easily, and quickly these two boys hit it off last night. I am glad. It looks like the friendship tradition will live on. <br /><br />Now it is 2010. I just know that it will bring more dinners, more laughter, and more good times with my family. Here's to the start of a great year.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-23553259027665563642009-08-06T17:32:00.000-07:002009-08-06T17:41:04.995-07:00Second Day of school!I made it through the second day of school. This would not have been possible without two of my very good friends who sat next to me during the inservice and kept me company. They make me laugh and make faces to make me smile. I really can't complain too much, most of the people I work with are very pleasant. HOWEVER, I just hate sitting on hard plastic seats at the cafeteria tables where my knees reach my chin. These tables are made for small children. Very Small children. My legs do not fit under the table with ease. The seats are attached to the tables, did I mention that they are hard plastic? Yeah my butt keeps reminding me of this. From 8:30 until 12:30, we sat. and sat. and sat. While listening to "school policies procedures". My butt cheeks thought they were going to "become one with the orange plastic circle". My knees ached from being bent at such an odd angle. There is no room to stretch out. I thought it would never end. FInally it did. Now what material was covered, I could not even begin to tell you as I had a brain fart as soon as we walked out of the frigid room. Yep it was COLD in there. SO I left with a headache, a sore butt, and blue toes. <br /><br />I did have a nice lunch with friends. Then it was back to the classroom to finish getting ready for the first day of school. Parents came to meet the teachers. I think 6 parents came today. That was good. I recieved my class list, which surely must be wrong as it says I only have 13 students!!! umm, no this can't be correct. There must be some mistake. <br /><br />TOmorrow will be another hectic day. Students arrive. Our goal on the first day: get them to class, get them fed, get them home!! Anything other than that is gravy. Rules and expectations of course. Maybe a writing activity and a game or two. Maybe the time will fly by. One can only dream.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-63939332388672232692009-08-04T17:49:00.000-07:002009-08-04T17:54:46.727-07:00Fun Fun FunI spent my last day of summer vacation doing the fun stuff I love doing. I went shopping and bought a few shirts that I found on sale. I can wear them to school or on our cruise in November. I went and wandered around the scrappy store. I love the scrappy store. I bought a few things I have been needing. Then I came home and scrapped. I ignored the floors that needed mopping, and the laundry that needed washing. I spent a few hours on myself. I finished one layout and made a birthday card for my niece. <br /><br />Later I picked Wyatt up from daycare, and treated us to Baskin Robbins ice cream. I know I Have a freezer full of ice cream. But I wanted a real "end of summer" treat. Baskin Robbins is not somewhere we go often. I think the last time I took Wyatt there was at least 3 years ago. So for us that was a real treat. <br /><br />Then I came home, and soaked in the tub. Steve cooked dinner. Nothing fancy, just steak and potatoes. Now I am going to lay in the bed and read until it is time to go to sleep. I know I will be waking up before the sun wakes up. It's going to be a busy day. But I did enjoy my last day of "fun fun fun"Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-29221104180936338112009-08-04T04:59:00.000-07:002009-08-04T05:02:39.727-07:00My Last Free DayThis is it. My last free day of summer vacation. Tomorrow I HAVE to go back to work. So how will I spend my last free day? I plan on dropping Wyatt off at daycare, going out for breakfast, then coming home and doing absolutely nothing work related. I want to watch movies and scrap. I need to make a birthday card for TIffany. At some point I will eat lunch, maybe going out to get something to eat, or else just eating junk around here. I am just going to relax before the stress of a new school year kicks off tomorrow.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-19808435041096720362009-08-02T07:33:00.000-07:002009-08-02T07:57:16.308-07:00Scrappy Room RedesignMy scrap room has been a bone of contention in my household for quite some time. Steve and I agreed that I needed a room to work on my hobby. He built the workshop (aka the man cave) out back for working on his hobbies. It was only fair that I have a place for mine. So I claimed the spare bedroom. <br /><br />When we first moved into the house, I had no problem sharing my space with Steve. He seldom came into the room, unless it was to use the computer or to pay bills. Easy peasy. I had my folding table on one wall and he had the desk on the opposite wall. The other room was the guest bedroom. Soon after we moved into the house, we had Wyatt. <br /><br />The guest room became Wyatt's room. The "extra" things we had stored in the guest room moved into the "scraproom/office". Since taking care of Wyatt, and working took up most of my time, I didn't have much time for scrapping. All was still good in the scrappy place, even if it was a little crowded. <br /><br />Soon my folding table was sagging under the weight of the supplies piled on top. I had boxes, bins, tubs of supplies. There was no functional storage. The room was a disaster. Steve griped constantly about the mess. FINALLY, he took pity on my and decided to create me the "ultimate" scrap space. He designed and built cabinets, while I pondered paint samples and color schemes. I wanted the room to be calming, and peaceful, yet still reflect my creative side. It took awhile, but finally it was done. With the blue walls, white trim and sand colored carpet, I was creating the "beach" themed room. Steve installed the cabinets. Upper around 3 walls, lower cabinets along one long wall, and a desk top on each short end. I had beaucoup storage. However, I still had to share the space with Steve. He just wanted one desk top, and the cabinets above it for storing office things and bills. Soon he wanted one lower cabient for computer stuff. <br /><br />Things went along somewhat smoothly. Wyatt grew as kids tend to do, and discovered that he liked to do crafts. In my scrap room. While he watched cartoons. While I was trying to scrap. It seemed that I could never get away from the "guys" when I needed some alone time. I couldn't just sit and read in a room without a tv on. I couldn't lay down for a nap without someone coming into the room to get something they needed. I couldn't just hide in a pretty girly space, because my guys, being typical guys, didn't want "fru fru pretty lacy, comfy" things. They wanted "manly colors, with a manly decor". I felt I was being overrun with testosterone, testostorne, crap with male hormones. <br /><br />This led to the "Scrappy Room Redesign". Steve and I started talking about remodeling and redecorating the house. I told him that I needed MY OWN SPACE or I was going to seriously hurt someone in this house. A room to myself, that did not have any manly things in it, that was fru fru, lacy, pretty and comfy. That was a peaceful, quiet, place for me to hide out in. This led to the Scrappy Room Redesign. <br /><br />After much talking, debating, arguing, and shopping my new space is finally taking shape. Steve took out one section of the cabinets and one desk top. For now we put the top bunk to wyatt's bunk bed in here. Eventually I will get a pretty white bed (just in case we need a place for company to spend the night). I am going to get the pretty white shabby chic bedding that I have loved for the longest time. Every time I go to Target, I walk through the bedding section and fondle the quilt and the sheets, and try not to drool on the pretty throw pillows. NOW I can buy them and bring them home. Along with pretty curtains. Then we will get a new bookshelf to hold some of my scrapbooks that I have made (no more hiding in a dark cabinet for them). And I have to figure out some sort of dvd storage (do you know how much space 229 dvds takes up? A LOT!!!) THen I will push for a bigger, flat screen television (why should my space have a tv smaller than my computer screen?). <br /><br />Last night, I put old sheets on the bed. Steve was in the living room watching some Discovery Channel show. I curled up on the comfy bed, and watched a girly movie and read my book. All was quiet and peaceful. (Wyatt was at my sister's spending the night.) When I was done for the night, I got up turned off the lights and went to bed with Steve. But for the little while I was in there, I could watch what I wanted, read a book with no background noise, or even just peruse magazines looking for scrappy inspiration. I have my own little girly space. A pesticle free zone!!! <br /><br />All is good in MissyLand.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-74416089632665877572009-07-31T07:56:00.000-07:002009-07-31T08:13:14.722-07:00IT's been awhileLife gets in the way of blogging it seems. Or I am just lazy. Take your pick. LOL SO what's new in MissyLand? Lots of stuff. <br /><br />Vacation in San Diego was wonderful. I really enjoyed spending time with Richard and Nancy. I can not thank them enough for letting us stay with them while we were there and for all that they did for us. Wyatt really enjoyed getting to know Uncle Richard adn Aunt Nancy. We really got to see and do everything that we wanted to see and do: Legoland, SeaWorld, The Zoo, Jullian, the gold mine tour, Body WOrks, The MIdWay aircraft carrier museum, and seeing where RIchard works was incredible. I was not ready to leave the cooler temperatures of California for the heat and humidity of Louisiana. <br /><br />Now we have decided to redecorate and remodel our house. Talk about fun!!! It's exciting. Shopping for furniture, looking at lamps, talking paint/curtains/flooring. Stop laughing. IT is fun. Honest. Okay, so maybe not FUN, but I enjoy it. Now I just want it DONE!!! I get soo excited that I want to see what it will all look like when it is done. In my mind it if beautiful, a comfy, cozy, place to come home and relax in. Getting it from my mind's eye, to reality is proving to be a painstaking task. BUT it willl happen. It will just take awhile. First we bought new living room furniture. SOfa, love seat, end tables, entertainment center, and desk. (I really can't wait for the tables/desk to arrive, it's on order.) <br /><br />Our next remodel/redecorate room is my scrappy room. IT's going to be a combination guest room/scrap room. Which sounds easy enough right? WRONG! Steve spent a lot of time and money to build me these wonderful cabinets and countertops to hold all of my scrap stuff. I love my scrap room. But now we want to take out almost half of the cabinets (bye bye storage) and put a twin bed in here. Which again sounds easy right? WRONG AGAIN! I have a LOT of stuff. SOme will go in under the bed storage (school stuff, mainly so I can access it when I need to create somethign for school). SOme will be tossed in the trash. Some will go in the attic (this would be steve's crap that he insists that he needs to keep). Some I am giving away. I am having to reorganize the scrappy side of the room. Eventually we will buy bookshelves to hold my scrapbook albums, and my dvds. I MUST have my dvd's in the room with me. All 200+ movies. This work would go much easier if I had the shelves, and the bed and the storage things I will eventually get. FOr now I am just boxing up, rearranging, and purging stuff. Hopefull this will be finished TODAY!! I want to scrapbook and I can't because the room is a mess. <br /><br />I bought a new car. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new car. 2010 Ford Fusion. In a pretty blue color. I love it. I love driving it. I love the satellite radio, the usb jack that I can use with my mp3 player, the 6-disc cd player. I never run out of things to listen to while I drive. <br /><br />That's the highlights of my summer. WHich is almost over. SChool starts back next week. New Grade for me (5th), same classroom (good thing). Trying to stay positive here.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-84374131384365733642009-05-05T17:15:00.000-07:002009-05-05T17:26:48.958-07:00My good day...SO far so good... I have not yelled at anyone... even the brat who told me that I was the a Mother F'ing Biotch from Hell and I don't have to do this Math work if I don't want to do it" ... I said "well now, here's your write up, go to the office and finish your work there" <br /><br />I have had a great afternoon.. I cooked dinner... I like cooking when I don't have to rush... granted it was just "breakfast" for dinner, but I like making biscuits from scratch... I am weird that way... <br /><br />I actually bought myself a new book, instead of waiting for it at the library... I love the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, and I started reading this book in the parking lot... lol... I didn't read it while driving, although I was tempted so I put it WAYYYYY in the back of the cargo area of the car... lol Percy was calling me.. lol <br /><br />I finally finished all of the teacher gifts for wyatt for the week... 1 altered paint can (full of nail polish/pedicure things for "pamper the teacher day").... 1 altered clipboard for "office supply" day.... 12 altered ink pens (ribbon wrapped with pretty daisies on them, all stuck in a painted flower pot) for "flower day".... and I helped wyatt put the finishing touches on the book he wrote for her for "book day"... (he wrote the cutest story about a boy on a cruise, and used pictures from our vacation to tell the story)... I started all of this mess on Sunday... finally finished... <br /><br />My grades are all averaged, the kitchen is cleaned, the house is relatively clean...and I brought home no extra work... everything can wait until tomorrow... soo I plan on fixing a big old glass of diet coke, curling up with Percy, and hopefully not get so "into" the book that I stay up all night to finish it..... <br /><br />I have 11 school days left. THat's a great feelings. Wait, I Have 10 days left, I took one day off so that I can go watch my son at his awards day program. Yippee...Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-46953879322259782302009-05-03T15:53:00.000-07:002009-05-03T16:08:21.679-07:00Focus on Me!!!THat's my goal. I said something to someone that was over the line. I am not proud of that. I never thought I would react the way I did. However, being as that I am human, I made a mistake and I screwed up. I can't change it. I can't make it right. All I can do at this point is focus on ME and figure out how to NOT let that happen ever again. THat's my goal. <br /><br />I shared my mistake with friends. Knowing the full well ahead of time, the outcome that would follow. I needed to hear the negative and hurtful things they were going to say. I needed them to tell me that I was wrong. Because I could have easily hidden what I have done. Not told anyone. Lived my life trying to bury the deed. But I didn't. I laid it out there for them to know. I was ready to hear the hurtful things. I knew that my friends would be horrified, but that they would eventually help me through this. SOme have done that. Their words of wisdom and suggestions of how to handle this have been much appreciated. SOme have decided that I am a liar. That I made it all up. THAT was uncalled for. SO I walked away from my friends for now. If I had stayed, I would have said some very hurtful things to them, and I do not want to be that person ever again. THis time I can walk away before I say them. <br /><br />So if my true friends are reading this, and you wonder where I have gone, I am here. Focusing on me. Reeavaluating my life, and talking with someone who can help me. I am moving forward. I can't change the past. I am working on the now, and looking to the future. <br /><br />For everyone, just remember, we all make mistakes. SOme mistakes are big, others are minor. BUT we all make them. It's part of life and part of being human. I believe that the key to life is that we learn from our mistakes, never to repeat them, and to become a better person from having made them. That is my focus. Me and my mistake. HOw to never repeat it, and to become a better person because of it.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-61342784629308405762008-07-23T19:05:00.001-07:002008-07-23T19:16:42.454-07:00My Mother In LawI love my mother in law. She is such a good person. Kind, caring, helpful, never butts in my marriage, and never offers advice unless she is asked. I admire and respect her so much. <br /><br />I am scared now. She is ill. It started about 1 1/2 maybe 2 years ago at the most. SHe began to have trouble walking. She kept tripping and falling over nothing. Her feet weren't working. She went to the doctor. THey ran tests. THey sent her to Houston to see more doctors for more tests. She went from walking with a cane, to using a walker, to being full time in a wheelchair in less than a year. Now she is using a breathing machine at night when she sleeps, and sometimes during the day as well. <br /><br />SHe said at first they suspected ALS. Lou Gherig's disease. Then she said they were mistaken. <br /><br />SHe never has come out and said "this is what is wrong." We don't ask. She hasn't wanted to talk about it. <br /><br />She never complains. When you ask how she is doing, she says "I'm fine as can be." She gets together with her friends. THe friends that she has always been there for, have made it a point to be there for her. THey come to her house for lunch, and to play cards. THey decorated her house for Christmas, and then came back and took the decorations down. <br /><br />She goes to physical therapy, swim class for exercise, and shopping if someone will drive her new van, so that she can just roll her chair into it. She does this cheerfully, with a smile and laugh. <br /><br />The only time I have really seen frustration on her face was the day when she realized that she couldn't play the piano anymore. Not that she played it all that much before she was sick, but she could if she wanted. Then when Wyatt expressed an interest, she tried and couldn't quite do it. I saw the look on her face and it made me sad. <br /><br />She wants to meet with the family this weekend, with an attorney. I am ascared. I don't want to hear bad news. ALthough I know it is coming. I am not ready for this. <br /><br />I'm sad. I am letting Wyatt spend as much time with her now. So what if he misses a field trip or an activity with daycare. I feel it is more important to let him go and stay with her and my fil. I was glad that they went on the cruise with us last month. <br /><br />I'm scared. I'm sad. SHe doesn't deserve this horrible illness.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-42582868816729691692008-06-30T17:52:00.000-07:002008-06-30T17:55:33.210-07:00Late Breaking NewsYES! YES! YES!<br /><br />THe governor just vetoed the legisltors pay raise.. YES!!! I loved his comments: They are asking too much of the taxpayers. IF this passed, then it should not go into effect until after the next legislative election, which would be 2012. An annual automatic increase in pay is a slap in the face to the voters. We need reform, and we need it NOW! A pay raise of a paid official should be voted upon by the people who voted to elect these officials." <br /><br />YES!!!Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-87980675081712578642008-06-30T14:48:00.000-07:002008-06-30T15:02:38.281-07:00PoliticsI hate politics. I try to listen to the candidates. I do my research on who has done what in the past, supported things that I feel are of importance, look at the issues. I vote. In every election, even the small ones that just seem to pop up for random issues. However, I really hate politics. More so the politicians involved in politics. Guess you can't have one without the other. Here are some reasons why:<br /><br />I hate mudslinging: Didn't these people learn that if you can't say anything nice, to say nothing at all? Stop twisting fact into half truths but leaving out vital imformation just to sway voters to your side. I really try not to vote for people who do a lot of negative campaigning. Tell me about YOU. What YOU stand for, what YOU plan to do, HOW YOU plan to do it. Not something that your opponent did thirty years ago, when he was 12, and probably learned a life lesson from.<br /><br />I hate campaign ads. For the reason above. It annoys me to turn on the tv, and hear them. I stop watching tv. <br /><br />I hate the way some politicians hold all of the power and force issues to go their way using that power. Case in point: Our wonderful legislators in Louisiana. Wanted a pay raise. (Why? It's a part time job. You ASKED us to put you in office, You KNEW what the pay was before you begged and whined to get put there. You have a full time job outside of this position. SHut up and deal with it.) SOO they hold up the governor's bills that he wants to have passed, stalls them in committee or on the floor until they "vote themselves a payraise". YES THAT'S RIGHT, THEY VOTED THEMSELVES A PAYRAISE!! A HUGE HONKING PAYRAISE! TRIPLING THEIR SALARY!!! And until they had that issue taken care of, nothing that the governor wanted to have accomplished was going to get done. The governor has some wonderful things he wants done with health care, education, and children's services. Things that would truly benefit the whole state. However, because of these politicians, none of that would be accomplished if they didn't get what they wanted. Soo they vote.. the payraise passes (barely), and a lot of the legislators who didn't support the payraise signed a waiver to donate the money to charity or to flat out refuse to take the raise. (Don't think I don't know which ones did this, because I made it a point to find out. It will greatly influence my vote next election.) THEN they made the raise so that they get a raise EVERY FREAKING YEAR!!! And the governor is refusing to veto or sign this piece of legislation. (IF he doesn't sign it within so many days, it automatically becomes a law. If he vetos it, then he will get nothing accomplished his whole term because these politicains will hold a grudge. BIG bunch of overgrown babies.) Power... that's what it comes down to.<br /><br />and I hate uninformed voters, too. Those people who will just believe what they hear, don't bother to check it out, and then vote blindly b/c they like the color of the tie the candidate was wearing on the campaign ad.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-77708787804589205292008-06-29T18:01:00.000-07:002008-06-29T18:13:54.232-07:00no matter how long the roadGrowing up, I spent a lot of time with my cousins. Family time was really big in our family. I remember Sunday Dinners after church at my grandmother's house. (The fried chicken, potato salad, mashed potatoes, fresh from grandpa's garden veggies, and fruit salad. Every time I have fruit salad, I think of my grandma.) ALL of the aunts/uncles and cousins would be there. ANd it didn't matter the age, the cousins all played together. We fought, we argued, we made up, we were just kids. I can remember the adults cooking dinner and laughing. <br /><br />I realized today, that even though my cousins and I are grown, married and have kids of our own, we are still as close as we were growing up. We may not see each other weekly, and sometimes we go months without a phone call. BUT when we do get a chance to get together, it's just like when we were growing up.. EXCEPT now we are the ones cooking, and laughing. ANd our kids are the ones that are playing, arguing, making up. The cycle continues. <br /><br />Even when the road between our homes is much longer now than it has ever been. <br /><br />TOday I went to my mom's, my cousin was in town with her husband and her kids. She called and asked if we wanted to ride over and visit. Even though we only got to visit a few hours, it was fun. THe kids played games that only make sense to kids. Something involving a checkerboard, stuffed animals, and unopened candy. The adults, sat and laughed and talked and laughed some more. No one wanted to be the first to leave and break up the fun. Even though she had a long drive home, she didn't want to leave either. <br /><br />I miss those big family gatherings. I called a different cousin today. We were talking and she stated that she too missed those times. While a weekly gathering may be a bit much now, we have decided that we are going to try to do a big family barbecue at the end of the summer. THat's our goal. Now to make it a reality.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-69821215631168943962008-06-28T20:06:00.000-07:002008-06-28T20:09:49.945-07:00My husband spoils meToday he surprised me. He gave me diamond earrings. Beautiful Diamond Earrings. I was shocked. For no reason, other than he wanted to give them to me. He bought them on our cruise. Held on to them for a "random day". Today was the random day. He never does stuff like this. Ever. I mean he buys me little things to let me know he is thinking of me.. a cell phone cover with an LSU logo... or a swim suit for the pool... or my favorite snack from the store. but never DIAMONDS!!! <br /><br />I love him. HE spoils me. I will keep him.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-31186179451596572122008-06-27T10:39:00.000-07:002008-06-27T10:54:36.223-07:00I love where I liveI really do. WHile I don't love the actual house (I want one with just ONE more bedroom and all of the rooms a little bigger), I do love the location of my house. <br /><br />I live exactly 4 miles south of my sister and 4 miles north of my mom. And yet, I see them very seldom. WE talk on the phone at least once a day, but actual visits are more likely to occur about once every two weeks or so. Not from lack of interest or dislike of each other. But just from being busy all the time. <br /><br />Looking back now, I realize just how great of a relationship I have with my two sisters. It didn't seem like it growing up, there were times when we got on each others nerves. But when I think back to my childhood, I remember the fun stuff mostly. ANd then I realized that although we have gotten older, married, have children of our own and more responsibilities than we ever thought possible, we really haven't changed all that much. <br /><br />Games: we played lots of games growing up. Card games, board games, games with dice, made up games where we kept changing the rules. WE still do that. We get together at least once a month and play games together. And we still change the rules, although now we tend to agree BEFORE we start the game to stick to ONE set of rules. <br /><br />Laughter: We laughed a lot growing up. We acted silly. We still do that. WE can all be together, sitting down at dinner, and one of my sisters (or myself) will make a face, a comment, or a gesture and off we go on the road to silliness. <br /><br />Music: I can't remember a time, growing up that one of us didn't have a radio, record player, tape player, cd player, or mp3 player turned on. While what we listen to has changed over time, we still have music on at some point during the day. I think we spent more time listening to music, than watching tv. (Could be because we had to share a Tv, and never wanted to watch what the others wanted.)<br /><br />Books: All of us still read as much as we did when we were younger. I read the most. FOllowed by my youngest sister. the middle sister will read, but she really doesn't get into books like the rest of us. And we still like the same genre's that we did growing up: FOr me that would be mysteries/horror/thriller/suspense... my the middle sister: romance... and for the youngest sister: her taste is more along the lines of historical fiction with a little romance in the mix. <br /><br />I Love my sisters. I love how we are always there for each other. I love how our relationships have changed with time, but yet remained much the same. I love how we get along, rarely disagree, and always stand up for each other. Even if we do make faces at each other when Mom is not looking.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-92140562026119038832008-06-26T17:51:00.000-07:002008-06-26T17:57:41.850-07:00What's up with me?Nothing. Nada. Zip. My days are pretty much the same lately:<br /><br />Wake up.<br /><br />Take Wyatt to daycare. Yes, it's summer. Yes, I'm off from work. BUT I have to pay to keep him space in daycare, soo if I'm paying, he's going. ANd to be honest, he loves playing with his friends. <br /><br />CHeck the Dawg. Chat with my friends. <br /><br />Clean house. It's a never ending battle. <br /><br />Run Errands. Not all days, but at least 2 days out of the week. I have to go to the grocery store, or something that involves leaving the house. I try to do it all on one day, but that doesn't always happen. <br /><br />Hang out in the pool. NOt a big fancy ingrown pool. Just a little cheap 3 foot above ground pool, but it's cool, and relaxing, and peaceful. When no one but me is out there. <br /><br />Come inside and eat lunch. <br /><br />Put laundry on to wash. Really now,THAT"s a never ending battle too. <br /><br />Back out in the pool, while reading a book. OR if the weather doesn't cooperate, I will play in my scrapbook room, while watching tv. <br /><br />Pick up Wyatt. <br /><br />THen, again depending on the weather, we either end up in the pool, or hang out inside. <br /><br />Cook dinner. CLean the kitchen. <br /><br />Take a bath.. and read or scrap til I get sleepy.<br /><br />Day after Day. I could get used to this. Now If I could only afford to do this without a paycheck.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-32587439989553931622008-06-15T17:39:00.000-07:002008-12-10T02:11:11.781-08:00What I did on my Summer Vacation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIukZsuat_NuKWR-ZqUzNuTyqtfOdN_667zmUOsIvHPZr_5mbQUfuSb_PVLsPyFA8iR0DtRJpR5Uc1XwhOqUPGcY4I575bmgQzOnMRP4-aLQIZKouC-g1XJ_9P7yy5VBkyAtSS3izQAY8/s1600-h/cruise+003.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIukZsuat_NuKWR-ZqUzNuTyqtfOdN_667zmUOsIvHPZr_5mbQUfuSb_PVLsPyFA8iR0DtRJpR5Uc1XwhOqUPGcY4I575bmgQzOnMRP4-aLQIZKouC-g1XJ_9P7yy5VBkyAtSS3izQAY8/s400/cruise+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212274096519964594" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGbAJjlUV1P_bRirqQLPEcVOSfS8Cvw7kvh5LUL8AvlKEV4fhyCu7E46U7r2RJ24YexwGrIrijhYcz6XU7c7hWez3KMbAYurf38mghyHE3AdvojF-dQquLzOnKWFCJp4Xw8jv8lYzrFxY/s1600-h/cruise+004.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGbAJjlUV1P_bRirqQLPEcVOSfS8Cvw7kvh5LUL8AvlKEV4fhyCu7E46U7r2RJ24YexwGrIrijhYcz6XU7c7hWez3KMbAYurf38mghyHE3AdvojF-dQquLzOnKWFCJp4Xw8jv8lYzrFxY/s400/cruise+004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212274104625165602" /></a><br />Day 1: We flew out of Baton Rouge to Atlanta, the to Miami. Wyatt was thrilled with the plane ride. He had never flown before. He was all excited to see the tops of clouds and the buildings as we took off. We stayed overnight at the Embassy Suites in Miami. REally nice hotel, with a beautiful atrium in the lobby, with a waterfall. PSA for the day: do not stay in a room right across from the elevator and behind the waterfall. You will hear lots of people talking drunkenly as they get off of the elevator and the waterfall will make you have to pee all night long. We walked to a nearby restaurant to eat dinner. On the SHORT walk, Wyatt decided he had to use the bathroom. I hear him yell "wait a minute". I turn around, adn my son has his weenis in his hand, fixing to pee on a flower bush. SO I Yell at him "put that thing away before someone sees you and we get arrested." Yep, cop car sitting right at the corner. <br /><br />On the cruise ship not a lot happened. We drank, swam, drank, ate, drank, watched some shows, drank, and had lots of "cheer". GOtta love when the in-laws come on vacation with you, and then INSIST that the monkeybutt sleep in the room with them. (Note to self, buy inlaws a nice Christmas present this year.)<br /><br />First port of call: San Juan, Puerto RIco: it rained. I shopped. It rained. I didn't care. Didn't buy much. A pair of earrings and a pendant. Steve and Wyatt each bought a shirt. We walked around and looked at the fort, and the statues and the birds. LOTS of birds. We walked for freaking ever. My feet and legs hurt. <br /><br />Second Port of Call: St. Thomas. BEAUTIFUL!! We went to Magen's Beach. Crystal clear water, the purtiest blue color I have ever seen. Wyatt saw fish, starfish and crabs. This was his first real visit to a beach. HE was amazed that there was WET SAND UNDER THE WATER!!! I sat on the beach and had an adult beverage, watched the cute guys walk by (there were two) and heard my son yell out "DAD LOOK THAT LADY'S BUTT IS HANGING OUT THE BACK OF HER SWIMSUIT" (his first encounter at the beach and his first butt floss swimsuit sighting) After the two hours at the beach, we were back on our tour of the Island. We were brought to Blackbeard's Castle. We did the walking tour of this area. Very INteresting. LOTS of walking. My legs and feet hurt. My cheap husband decided NOT to pay for a taxi b/c it was just a short walk to ship. Umm.. yeah a 45 minute walk... NOT FUN!!! DUring the tour, I had a few cups of rum punch.. okay 5 cups of rum punch, but who's counting. We did some more shopping.. Steve bought me a pearl necklace, bracelet, and earring set. The guys got tee-shirts. <br /><br />Last port of call: St. Marteen. We took a bus to a "remote" fishing village, where we boarded a smaller boat to go out to a coral reef. Then we went "down below" (get your minds out of the gutter wyatt was with us) to look through the glass windows at the tropical fish, sea urchins, and sea turtles. My pictures of this did not come out very clear. But it was really neat. Then after a couple of hours, we headed back to town. We did some more shopping. Steve bought me a topaz pendant. The guys each got another shirt. OH, and I got a new pair of sunglasses too. <br /><br />Then we headed home. Nothing much to do on the ship but drink, eat, swim, and play games. ANd Drink. I drank lots on the ship. <br /><br />THat's it in a nutshell: relaxing, drinking, sunning, shopping.. the perfect vacation.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-56712586898122049532008-05-27T04:20:00.000-07:002008-05-27T04:32:18.014-07:00My Ramblings:THis is for my friend KAT. See I am updating my blog. YOu have shamed me. LOL <br /><br />Actually, things have been super crazy around here. SO I am going to just ramble about what's been going on in my life: <br /><br />Wyatt's t-ball season has finally ended. I Have never been so glad to see a ball season end. He had fun, and I saw improvement in his game between the beginning of the season and the end of the season. But I am so glad it's over. I am done with ballgames until next Spring. Well, unless I go to watch one of TIffany's tournament games, but I doubt that I go to those as it is TOO HOT!!! <br /><br />School has ended. This school year has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions. The students were not that bad this year, but the "extra" stuff has been very stressful. With the different people coming in to monitor and observe, it's just over. Now I can relax. <br /><br />I have been shopping like crazy for our cruise. It only took 3 weekends of shopping to find everything we needed. We packed last night, and discovered we still needed a few things. Wyatt needed a brown belt, and tan socks and new Tennis shoes. Steve needed a new swim suit. ALl I needed was panty hose. I would have bought them sooner but I hate wearing them, so I put off buying them as long as possible. Now we are ready. Except for wyatt's shoes. I HAVE to go buy him new tennis shoes TODAY! <br /><br />I just bought him a pair of shoes at the end of April. THEY ARE TOO SMALL!!!! I refuse to buy him expensive shoes anymore. He outgrows them too quickly to justify the price. <br /><br />Nothing much has been happening in my life. Ball games, wrapping up school, and shopping. That's it. No drama. No excitment. SOmetimes thats a good thing.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-38916549754250553072008-05-03T05:01:00.000-07:002008-12-10T02:11:11.908-08:00Stupid finger thing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndM2OvB5Uv6pv6Jm0hpeRVWT5chXDynKf5IMvwiY3ZRIB49Z31M8x_wIBBh6qFbKjo4kpdjTKo9Ycg1vqJAQNcrN6QezBVffpeh6N5iJtgt8tAqfamp8rcwucRFfK_6VyQ9v3-dHzwnQP/s1600-h/IMG_3052.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndM2OvB5Uv6pv6Jm0hpeRVWT5chXDynKf5IMvwiY3ZRIB49Z31M8x_wIBBh6qFbKjo4kpdjTKo9Ycg1vqJAQNcrN6QezBVffpeh6N5iJtgt8tAqfamp8rcwucRFfK_6VyQ9v3-dHzwnQP/s400/IMG_3052.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196120959988668722" /></a><br />It seems lately that everytime I take a photo of WYatt, and he sees the camera pointing in his direction, he makes this stupid hand gesture. He calls it his "rock and roll Pose". I call it the "stupid finger thing". His dad just laughs. He wants to be a "rock star" so he is practicing. I know that he will grow out of this stage, and I take solace knowing that in the meantime I am getting lots of future blackmail pictures.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-56535799773340802402008-02-28T18:38:00.000-08:002008-12-10T02:11:12.214-08:00My Favorite Pastime<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUqIE6exfaJzyE7t6GEkTWsEytHgiEPEU7-2vwQ_B0ZCQ0TOlHg68XqFDHXgb9uo_H6SdhNNOl34PxXK0AsVFA1Lhhxdxxj0l7Hy2UHTfV5znbpGM3R-SIR9o1iNeifJl3M-4mhZyZ3FC/s1600-h/IMG_2608.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUqIE6exfaJzyE7t6GEkTWsEytHgiEPEU7-2vwQ_B0ZCQ0TOlHg68XqFDHXgb9uo_H6SdhNNOl34PxXK0AsVFA1Lhhxdxxj0l7Hy2UHTfV5znbpGM3R-SIR9o1iNeifJl3M-4mhZyZ3FC/s400/IMG_2608.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172226672338652978" /></a><br />I am not a huge sports fan. Some might even call me a FRINGE FAN! BUt I like Softball. I LOVE softball when I get watch my niece's play. Tonight I had the best time watching my oldest two niece's compete against each other. Tiffany plays for Live Oak. Kati plays for Denham Springs. I was playing with my camera, and I happened to catch this image. I think it is my new favorite picture. It's not perfect. BUT it's of two of my favorite people, doing the thing that makes them happy. AND It's not often I get a picture of my two girls together.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-26302828561038081432008-02-25T03:09:00.000-08:002008-02-25T03:10:28.466-08:00<table width=350 align=center border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2><tr><td bgcolor="#EEEEEE" align=center><br /><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" style='color:black; font-size: 14pt;'><br /><strong>You Are Sneakers</strong><br /></font></td></tr><br /><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><br /><center><img src="http://www.blogthingsimages.com/whatkindofshoeareyouquiz/sneakers.gif" height="100" width="100"></center><br /><font color="#000000"><br />You are creative, funky, and forward thinking.<br /><br />You are cool, but you are still approachable.<br /><br /><br /><br />You are stylish and edgy, but you aren't a slave to fashion.<br /><br />You tend to put your own spin on trends.<br /><br /><br /><br />You tend to have a fast paced, busy lifestyle.<br /><br />Not a lot of people can keep up with you!<br /><br /><br /><br />You should live: Near nature<br /><br /><br /><br />You should work: In a job that keeps you on the go<br /></font></td></tr></table><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofshoeareyouquiz/">What Kind of Shoe Are You?</a></div>Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-35531425108487044652008-02-14T03:19:00.000-08:002008-12-10T02:11:12.453-08:00Where does the time go?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyPWBLGmMODU533GxCSkrodpBhSVyUe9fNmVf0ZFAMJMrlTK6IuNKCTwqA4PGOGC1sGfnpct-FoeGJl1yEZ96Iu40YNKKsLQyZ3NA_D1eASDvwmRQGH_UDhbphKrsF8kKHLcR4FyVM47L/s1600-h/IMG_2298.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyPWBLGmMODU533GxCSkrodpBhSVyUe9fNmVf0ZFAMJMrlTK6IuNKCTwqA4PGOGC1sGfnpct-FoeGJl1yEZ96Iu40YNKKsLQyZ3NA_D1eASDvwmRQGH_UDhbphKrsF8kKHLcR4FyVM47L/s400/IMG_2298.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166795894182408146" /></a><br />I KNOW it was just yesterday that I came home from the hospital with my little baby boy. IT was NOT six years ago. NO NO NO!!! It's not possible. I am not ready for him to be six!!!! <br /><br />BUT he is. Six... TODAY!!!! My little Valentine's Baby... in now my Valentine's Boy!!!... <br /><br />Six years old.. Six years to love him, Six years to watch him grow... Six years of new accomplishments.... yet there are times that I look at him and wonder "Who is this child? WHere did he come from? WHere is my baby?" <br /><br />I just peeked in on him sleeping. He looks so BIG in his bed. No baby blankets, no bottles, no pacifers. No diapers.. (wait that's a good thing). <br /><br />He's becoming so independent. I am not ready for him to grow up. <br /><br />Some please tell him to stop. I think he is doing it to spite me. I tell him but he doesn't listen. Maybe he will listen to you.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-47004853079289453042008-02-06T12:32:00.000-08:002008-02-06T12:43:09.451-08:00Who Knows ME Best?When asked this question, I immediately thought of Steve. My husband. He knows me very well. He doesn't always "understand me" or "get me" but he knows me! He knows what I like to eat from most of the restuarants we go to. He knows my favorite things to drink. He knows what type of books I like to read. If you asked him my favorite type of music, or tv show, he could answer those questions easy. He knows the day to day stuff. But even more than that, he knows the deeper stuff. He knows when I have had a bad day at work, not by the expression on my face, but by what station the radio is on when he gets in the car. But even more important than the STUFF that he knows, is how he shows that he knows. It's the little things. Like buying me a cell phone cover on a business trip. He knew I had looked for one, couldn't find one here, and saw it on his trip and bought it for me. Or, buying my favorite snack at the grocery store.. or a book by one of my favorite authors... or a copy of a movie with an actor that he knows I like. He knows how to make me laugh when I am sad. He knows when to leave me alone when I am angry. (Although lately he seems to forget that he knows this.) He knows when to give me hugs and when to just let me cry. He knows my good moods and my bad ones. After dating for 7 years and 13 years of marriage, he should know me best. However, I do like to change my mind about things, if for no other reason than to keep him on his toes.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3108730509809489597.post-62075742991774741302008-02-02T04:44:00.000-08:002008-02-02T04:47:56.445-08:00Step One...My word for the year is ACCOMPLISH!... I was unhappy with the look of my blog... learning how to change it and make it purty was one of the things I wanted to accomplish this year. Thanks to a friend named Janelle, I was able to do that. HUGS to Janelle. NOw I have a purty girly blogMissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17509410757326620945noreply@blogger.com4