REDNECKS?

OKAY THOSE QUOTES MAKE US SOUND LIKE SOME DIEHARD REDNECKS....

SO FOR SOME EXPLANATIONS....

PEEING OUTSIDE? DO MEN REALLY STILL DO THIS WHENEVER THEY GET THE CHANCE AND WHAT IS THAT ABOUT??

THE TAMPONS? OLIVIA DISCOVERED THEM IN THE BATHROOM AND I'VE DECIDED TO ANSWER EACH OF HER QUESTIONS AS HONESTLY AS I CAN....EVEN IF SHE'S REALLY GOING TO HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT MEANS....THE CONVERSATION WENT:

OLIVIA: WHAT'S THIS MOMMY?
ME: UMMM, THAT'S A TAMPON.
OLIVIA: WHAT'S A TAMPON?
ME: OH, YOU WON'T NEED TO KNOW WHAT IT IS UNTIL YOU BECOME A WOMAN. RIGHT NOW YOU ARE JUST A LITTLE GIRL.
OLIVIA: I'M A LITTLE GIRL.
ME: YES, YOU ARE.
OLIVIA: MOMMY I'M NOT A LITTLE GIRL I'M A WOMAN.

Quotes by Liv

As I'm putting my makeup on one morning....

Olivia: "Are you decorating mommy?"

Mommy: "You have no idea, Olivia."
_____________________________

After I try to explain g-ratedly what a tampon is....

Olivia: "Mommy, I'm not a little girl...I'm a woman."
_____________________________

While busy playing the backyard....

Olivia: "Can I tee-tee outside like Daddy?"

Mommy: "No, honey only boys tee-tee outside....you have to tee-tee in the potty."
_____________________________

As Jonah cries and cries and cries....

Olivia: "Relax Baby Jonah. Just calm down."
_____________________________

Not me! Monday on Tuesday

Another edition of Not Me! Monday courtesy of MckMama....

I'm a horrible daughter-in-law......I mean I would be horrible if I had forgotten to check on my sick mother-in-law!!! Surely, if my father-in-law asked me (while I was dropping off hot soup...had to throw that in there :) ) to come check on his wife on Saturday while he was at work....I would NEVER completely forget and go home and take a nap because I was so exhausted!! That would be sooooo selfish...

After not working out for let's see....Jonah's 3 months...fainted in May...okay, wow! almost 8 months...I'm sure I did not skip working out for 8 months! but...let's say I did and after my 1st workout back...I would not be soooooo sore that I would have to use the cruise control to get my booty back home...that would be really sad.

Since I'm such an AWESOME driver...hahaha....I would definitely not have had a FENDER-BENDER while in Amarillo for class! That would've been strike 3 in my hubby's book (Strike 6 in reality) and my Tahoe would be history. I'm sure if I would've had a fender-bender an angel would've been watching out for me and there wouldn't have been a single scratch on either one of the vehicles!!

Being the wonderful, caring mother that I am...I wouldn't be so forgetful that every time I went shopping I forgot to purchase my son some new pacifiers....and then end up at a church function and have to pull out the huge, gold paci that has PIMP on it (it was a gift)...that would not bode well for my mothering skills.

Crazy Texting

Have you guys seen this story?

I knew kids text A LOT these days...but geez....how do you have time to do ANYTHING else?

New Weight Loss Blog

I started a new blog about my adventures in trying to lose all of this extra weight. I know a lot of you are trying to do the same and if you want to share some of your triumphs or challenges please feel free to post on my blog. Just let me know and I'll add you as an author.

Here's the link.

iheartdrpepper

I'm not a big fan of diets. I like life changes better....but boy are they soooo much harder. I'm going to give this new diet a try starting Monday. A friend of mine has done this particular one and assured me I will not have to be dependent on it for the rest of my life. What's it going to hurt? I just thought if I have to try one more article of clothing on that makes me want to cry or hear Chris jokingly ask, "Have you called Jenny yet?" I'm going to have a meltdown...haha not really, but I am ready to be back to my pre-pregancy weight.

The Biggest Loser has inspired me and I'm glad they are airing this season so soon after the last one. I'm also considering doing the contest at F3 this go round. We'll see. Until Monday though I'm thinking about drinking as many Dr. Peppers as I can. Why? Well, why not? They are sitting in my fridge and are going to be off limits with this new diet. Which makes me terribly sad and I wish it didn't....I love them so. Heck, even my web address is imaddictedtodrpepper so.........and maybe by drinking so many they will make me sick. Kinda like when a little boy (not a little girl....sugar and spice and everything nice) says a dirty word and his mama makes him say it 50 times...so much that it takes the fun out of it....or the young boy (again boy not girl) smokes a cigarette and the dad makes him smoke a whole pack.

I need to get the oil changed in my car. I hate doing this. My dad is was a mechanic for years so he always did this for me. I hate taking my car in myself because the guys make me feel dumb or act like they are too busy to get to my car. I just feel silly and I practically have to beg Chris to take it in. Maybe he'll have time before the weekend. I should just learn to change it myself. Oh wow. Not happening.

My cleaning lady is coming tonight. My brand new mop that I purchased 4 weeks ago is still sitting in my closet unopened. Won't she be proud? I have managed to vacuum and dust several times the past couple of weeks....among some other chores that I hate.

Have you heard of Flylady? If you're a dork like me and are interested in making your house a home, if you like organizing tips or have a thing for sticky notes check out Flylady's website it's very cool. Every few months I get completely obsessed with a website and right now I'm on a Flylady kick. On the website she has 28 BabySteps that you do to form these habits that will make your house sparkle. The first one is....Shine your sink...Chris came home a while back and I was shining my sink (at 11 o'clock...still prego) he thought I had lost my mind. I had the page pulled up but as soon as I heard his truck I ran into the living room to close the browser....but I didn't actually close it because soon I heard Chris say from the living room, "You need instructions on how to clean the sink?" Hahahaha I still laugh today thinking about that. I reply, "No, honey...this is shining your sink. Completely different. I don't want to miss any important steps."

Not Me Monday

This past week I did not get stuck in the United parking lot....because who does that seriously? It would mean that I would've parked a little too close to one side and that a huge I don't know F250 parked beside me...so close that if I had tried to back up our mirrors would've collided...it would also mean that there would've been a handicapped vehicle in front of me and on the other side of me. If I was stuck I wouldn't have gotten so excited to see the handicapped lady from the vehicle in front of me emerge from the Dollar Store only to quickly learn that she was going to enjoy her ice cream before she left the parking lot. Do they sell ice cream at the Dollar Store??

(On a side note....if I would've gotten stuck in the United parking lot....I would not have found myself laughing at all of the people who parked a mile from J's Liquor then go in and purchase alcohol for the New Year's. Seriously people???)

This past week I also DID NOT lose $350 of rent money that I had put in a sealed County Judge's envelope....Only to have it come back to me in the mail for an address and postage!!!!!! Oh my!! Think of the trouble I would've been in...had I done THAT!!!

Click here to read more!

The Holidays Part 2

I'll apologize ahead of time for all of the pictures...but this is my online scrapbook....so what do you do?

The first weekend in December we traveled to Bridgeport for an early Christmas with my parents, brother and sister-in-law. I wasn't sure if it was going to be the same celebrating 3 weeks early...but we had fun and the kids were of course spoiled. I really feel old when I say "the kids." Saturday night we had a yummy dinner and followed that with opening gifts. This year we drew names and it was a lot of fun especially having Jenny there with us. Chris had drawn my name so I picked out of my own gift(s)...just lots of things I needed photo albums, shelves and a cute, little clutch.

In their sweet pajamas that Sharalyn gave them

A couple of weeks ago Olivia and I were watching Private Sessions on A&E and Cyndi Lauper was on there singing "Girls Just Want To Have Fun," Liv looked at me very seriously and said, "Mommy, I need a microphone. A pink one." She had me convinced a microphone was going to change her life. If anyone of you have been around her you know she is quite the performer. Well, my mom had found her a High School Musical microphone that was pink. Between the pink mic and the new Cinderella dress she was in Christmas Heaven! She has already memorized the 2 songs that the mic plays....we have to keep it hidden if we want any sleep.

Jenny gave me an early birthday present... 2 framed pics from their wedding....one of her&Thad and one of her&Liv.....I love them....perfect gifts!

Sunday morning after spending 3 hours getting everyone reading and loading the car we're ready to hit the road. We stop by Jenny's old house to help Thad load some furniture. Chris, Liv and I get out of the car (Jonah was peacefully sleeping) and we start walking up to the house as we hear our car honk. Chris and I look at each other, then at the car. "Did you lock it?" "No, did you lock it?" "No." Yes, it's true, we locked our baby in the car. Thank goodness for OnStar.

Parents of the Year

Poor Baby Jonah locked in the car

And now...the week of Christmas... I always have some type of family drama especially around important holidays. Oh well, things always work out. I freak out, stress, scream and then move on.

Olivia is a little older this year so it came naturally to start some of our own family Christmas traditions. During the week before Christmas we read a different Christmas book before bed each night. Some from our collection this year were - "12 Days of Christmas," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "God Gave Us Christmas" and "Twas the Night Before Christmas."

Another tradition just for myself was watching "The Nativity Story." If you haven't seen it I highly recommend it. Last year at the church they showed it the week before Christmas and I loved it!

Christmas Eve was spent at my aunt and uncle's just having a nice dinner...not the traditional meal..but chicken enchiladas. I must say they were hands down the best enchiladas I've ever had. My Mimi rocks! I have to get that recipe and I will definitely share....

We went home and Olivia and I made cookies for Santa. She's two this year and was really excited about everything so I enjoyed starting these traditions. Making cookies together for Santa is another one. She was so cute and just wanted to make Santa happy. We made the cookies, poured Santa some milk, wrote him a letter and set them out where he would be able to find them easily.

Making Santa's cookies

Letter to Santa...I must've taken this after Santa came :)

Then she was off to bed...while Mr. and Mrs. Claus played guitar hero filled the stockings with goodies and put pretty presents under the Christmas tree.


We awoke Christmas morning at a decent hour...not too early. Olivia was happy with her presents from Santa, was amazed that Santa ate her cookies and drank ALL of the milk.

Our last tradition that we started was Santa brought each of the kids a new ornament and left it wrapped on their beds for them to find first thing in the morning.

Jonah's ornament


Olivia's ornament

Santa only made one mistake this year....

After we did our own Christmas and Santa's gifts...we had Christmas (again) with my mom and dad and my Mimi and Fred came over to watch Olivia open presents. She had fun not only opening her's but her brother's as well. I told her to enjoy it because this would be the only year that would happen.

Liv with her giraffe from Daddy Keys

Jonah Bear

Liv's favorite gift

For lunch we went to the Reeds enjoyed a nice lunch and opened more presents with Chris' grandmother.

Banana pudding before lunch? Only with Grandpa...

Every year Grandma and Grandpa get Olivia a Disney porcelain doll...yes, the ones she only gets to look at. This year she got Tinkerbelle and I let them convince me to take her out of the box unlike these so it probably won't be long before she gets broken.

and Christmas couldn't be complete without a Dora sleeping bag...

me with my sweet children

I know this is blurry, but I thought it was cute

I hope each of you had a blessed Christmas!

Enjoy 2009!!

Twitter

Someone had said that Twitter is like text messaging on crack (i think i read that on Mckmama's blog) anyway, immediately i was like........sign me up baby! Of course, I need one more addiction.....if only the SMS would work here so i could get actual text messages...

To All of You Media Lovers

Check out http://www.paperbackswap.com/

totally cool......you post your DVDs, CDs-paperback, hardback and audio books ... and then swap for different ones...absolutely free

The Holidays Part 1

For Thanksgiving this year we had Thanksgiving lunch at The Reed's. It was just us and Chris' mom and dad. We enjoyed a good meal and then watched the football game.

Here's my sweet baby boy asleep on Daddy's chest

Then it was off to my Mimi's to do the Christmas Exchange with The Buckley's. Last year we started each buying a gift card and then doing the White Elephant Gift Exchange with them and it's a lot of fun and a lot less stressful when buying gifts. Chris got a Walmart gift card and I for the 2nd year got a gift certificate to BALLYHOO...woo hoo!!!

Here's Liv in Lance's boots


My sweet cousin Bergan


On Friday morning early, early I made my way to Walmart to fight the crazies and buy some trees for Toys for Tots from ADO, my sorority. We saved lots of money and it was worth getting up early for.

Then when I got home we packed up the car and headed to Austin to see my Papa who has been living with my Aunt Connie since the end of June. He still can't talk or use his right arm, but he was so glad to see us and he did show off some of his walking skills he's been working on.

My cousin Tori with her mama, Aunt Connie


my cousin Tristen


Family picture....love the look on Jonah's face


My cousin Quana holding Jonah and her daughter Raegan


Aunt Connie and Papa


On the way home...we decided to take I-35 horrible mistake. I couldn't believe the traffic. I have never had to travel for Thanksgiving so I was in shock.....way too many people and wrecks. With 2 kids under two it was not a pleasant ride home.

Before the dreaded traffic on I-35

Not Me Monday

What a fast and furious week it was

I did not take this picture of Olivia after she fell in and think it was cute!! I have manners...

I didn't make Olivia just stare at her Disney porcelain dolls while they were still in the boxes and convince her this is the way to play with "fragile dolls"....That's crazy....what mom would deprive their kiddo from playing with their favorite toys...not me!!

After spilling a Dr. Pepper in my fairly new car I did not use a nursing pad to clean up the mess because I couldn't find any napkins....and if I had done that surely I wouldn't consider storing the rest of my nursing pads in the car because they were way more absorbent that regular napkins....nope not me!

This week I really didn't use $$ to bribe my sweet daughter to stop crying for at least 5 MINUTES....that would just be wrong...and so lazy! Instead I would rely on my mad parenting skills....not BRIBERY...!

Click here to read some more confessions from lots of other fabulous women...

CHRISTMAS TAG

1) Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper... if i have time......

2) Real or Artificial tree? Artificial

3) When do you put your tree up? the weekend after Thanksgiving

4) When do you take your tree down? Oh, when I get around to it, but usually a few days after the New Year

5) Do you like eggnog? yummy! yes!

6)Favorite gift received as a child? huge doll house

7) Hardest person to buy for? my in-laws

8) Easiest person to buy for? my hubby

9) Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, but I would like another one...

10) Mail or e-mail Christmas Cards? mail them

11) Worst Christmas gift you ever received? i can't remember one

12) Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life

13) When do you start shopping for Christmas? it varies each year....

14) Do you hang mistletoe? no... but i would love to

15) Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? rum balls

16) Lights on tree? pre-lit, white

17) Favorite Christmas Song? Silver Bells

18) Travel at Christmas or stay home? stay home

19) Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph

20) Angel or Star on top of tree? Star

21) Open the presents Christmas Eve or Morning? Christmas Eve with in-laws and Christmas morning with my family

22) Most annoying thing about this time of year? malls

23) Favorite ornament theme or color? red/gold

24) Favorite for Christmas Dinner? ham

26) What do you want for Christmas this year? new clothes

26) Who do you Tag to answer these on their blog? jenny, pamela and brandy

Okay Friends...so for a brief moment last night I had a meltdown and made my blog private. Then I couldn't stop thinking about my decision. There's no denying I love Blogger and I love to read other people's blogs so it's only fair that I allow other's to read mine, correct?
So I have changed it back....but I have a request....if you read my blog and enjoy it (or even if you don't) please delurk by leaving me a comment just to say hi. Today I'm going to delurk myself on someone else's blog.

Wow!!!

Do you see the Rebel For a Cause button on the right side of my blog??? Well, click on it and you won't be sorry. You could win a Canon XSi package....

MckMama is having a super raffle, giveaway a Raffle-Way if you will.......it's huge and to top it off she's donating the money to some awesome causes....String of Pearls, No Hands But Ours and The Elison Project!!!

If you are interested in taking pictures then you must check out this Raffle-Way....it's going on until December 14 at 11:59 p.m. (CST).

What a wonderful Christmas gift this could be?

HALLOWEEN PICS...finally

This is Olivia and Chris sketching out Dora for the Jack-o-Lantern


Trick-or-Treating at TxDOT

Liv was a princess and Jonah was Tigger

and finally after way too much sugar....it's bedtime!

Jonah Daniel Reed is here...

He was born on Thursday, October 16th at 7:19 a.m. He weighed 9 pounds and 5 ounces and was 20 1/4 in length. He came out of the womb with a booming cry that matched his hefty weight!!

He was absolutely perfect and there were tears of joy from us both.

Big Sister Olivia has been so sweet and such a big help. When people would come into the hospital room Olivia would throw her hands out and announce, "It's my baby brother Jonah!!!" to the visitor. She is so proud and still calls him My Baby Jonah.

Introducing Brother and Sister

We have had so much help from Gigi and Daddy Keys, Grandpa and Grandma, Meme (Tonya) and the Steeds who took Liv to the Homecoming game and had a sleepover.

Ready to go watch the Bobcats


Thank you everyone for the prayers, wishes, flowers/plants sent to the hospital, visits and food. We are so blessed and appreciate you all!!!

Childress High School, Childress High School, We love you...
1. Did you date someone from your school? Yes...
2. Did you marry someone from your high school? We went to the same high school but there' 8 years between us
3. Did you car pool to school? No
4. What kind of car did you have? 1) '85 buick park avenue with a horn that sounded like a train....until i went mudding and knocked the starter off....2) '92 white honda prelude...loved that car!!!
5. What kind of car do you have now? '08 chevy tahoe
6. (THEN) Its Friday night...where are you? childress bobcat football game
7. (NOW) It is Friday night...where are you? ummm, depends...sometimes at a ballgame other times out of town or just at home
8. What kind of job did you have in high school? i worked at my-t burger and united supermarkets
9. What kind of job do you do now? court coordinator AKA secretary
10. Were you a party animal? not hardly
11. Were you considered a flirt? i don't think so
12. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? band my freshman year
13. Were you a nerd? no
14. Did you get suspended or expelled? never
15. Can you sing the fight song? of course...i can do the cheerleading routine.....C....H.....S....
16. Who was/were your favorite teacher(s)? Coach Olson, Mrs. Connie Inman, Mrs. Gina Inman, Mr. Jenkins and John David, student teacher
17. Where did you sit during lunch? out or at a friend's house
18. What was your school's mascot? bobcats
19. When did you graduate? 1998
20. What were your school colors? blue and white
21. If you could go back and do it again, would you? nope
22. Did you have fun at Prom? yes
23. Do you still talk to the person you went to Prom with? yes
24. Are you planning on going to your next reunion? ummm, not sure if there will be one
25. Do you still talk to people from school ? yes....a lot live here

Top Ten Movies



Chris' List

1. Pulp Fiction

2. Reservoir Dogs

3. Saving Private Ryan

4. Se7en

5. Bull Durham

6. The Dark Knight

7. Animal House

8. Gladiator

9. Wedding Crashers

10. The Natural



Tara's List

1. Grease

2. The Devil Wears Prada

3. Girls Just Want to Have Fun

4. Saving Private Ryan

5. The Dark Knight

6. You've Got Mail

7. Someone Like You

8. One True Thing

9. What Dreams May Come

10. Sweet Home Alabama

The other night I asked Olivia if she wanted to sleep with Mommy. She said yes and we get ready for bed. We lay in there for about 15 minutes and then she said, "Can I go get in my bed?" What child doesn't want to sleep in bed with Mommy and Daddy? I guess the one that's been sleeping in their own bed since they were 3 weeks old. I thought it was going to be such a treat for her....oh well, hope she likes her big bed as much as her crib.

____________________

In the mornings we get Olivia up and put her in our bed while she's "waking up." This morning I had my iPod playing and I asked her if she wanted to go eat breakfast and she said, "No, I want to listen to music." Music instead of breakfast?? Who is this child? She loves anything that relates to music and she has since she was about 6 months old. Everything from the theme song to her favorite cartoons, playing the piano at Mimi's or Gigi's, listening to Daddy play the guitar or dancing with Mommy. She can put on quite a show in our living room. We introduce her by saying, "Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight Olivia Reed will be performing some very special songs for you..." and she comes out from behind our curtains and does a set of about 5 songs - "Itsy, Bitsy Spider," "Twinkle, Twinkle," "The Alphabet Song," "Row, Row Row Your Boat" and "Jesus Loves Me." Now she is obsessed with The Little Mermaid so she throws in some Aw, Awww AWWWW song from the movie.