Snaggle Tooth

I only wish I knew how this tooth stayed in her mouth.  It was hangin' on by a thread!

And then, the next morning she was eating her favored Cream of Wheat for breakfast when her head pops up and she says, "My tooth just fell out!  It's okay mom, it fell in my Cream of Wheat."  Gosh I love that girl!  So what does she do when I ask if I can take a picture?

Ohhhhhhhh...sweet Caroline...

The Art of Writing a Letter

Did you ever have a pen-pal?  A grandma you got letters from?  I did, but that was years ago.  I send out my Christmas cards like a good girl, but I don't sit down often enough and write a true letter.  I was raised by a mother who was from East Texas, and if you know anything about that area, it's a world of it's own.  Very proper and traditional, very southern.  As in, you are a lady and will act accordingly.  So, you can imagine, my mother was true to her roots in raising her kids.  I grew up in Dallas, but those East Texas rules still applied.  Thus, we wrote letters.  Along with many other things that we can save for a post another day :)

I used to love getting letters in the mail, still do, but oddly it never happens these days.  I was reading a post by a sweet friend Nicole, and she was talking about the same thing...whatever happened to good old fashioned letter writing?  Computers, cell phones...not that I'm complaining, I love to get emails, I love to get comments here.  But come on, you know you get super excited when you open the mailbox and see that hand written letter.

Most of us are old enough to remember those days.  But what about our kids?  Caroline is 7 and uses a computer all the time.  She even wants to text!  So after reading Nicole's post about deciding she would start writing a letter each week to her grandmother, I had a little brainstorm.  You'll have to bear with me here, I haven't worked out all the kinks yet!  I know Caroline loves to write little notes to us, and herself, but what about to a new friend?

I'm pretty sure most of my readers have kids, or maybe grandkids...I'm not really sure.  My thought is that we all get our kids together through writing.  I know some of them are quite little, but we could have them color a picture.  How neat would it be for our kids to get something special in the mail...especially from a friend!

Let me know if you would like to have your kids participate!

Details:

send me an email to ashee7896 {at} yahoo {dot} com with the following info:

          -child's name {if you feel more comfortable not giving it, that's fine!}

          -male or female

          -age

          -location {You do not need to tell me where you live!  A  major city close to you, and state is fine!}
          The purpose of this is only to try to get someone who doesn't live around you!

          -your email address

Once I see who would like to do this, then I will try to match kids up accordingly by age, gender, and location.  Then I will email each of you with the information and the parents email address and leave it up to you from there.  I know some people like to remain private with where they live, and I totally respect that!  This is why I am not asking for everyone's address!  I feel like that's best left for the kids/families who write to each other.

A couple of other thoughts...it doesn't matter how young or old your kids are.  Little ones can color a picture, older ones can write, exchange a photo of each other, draw something...it's up to them!  They can continue this for as long as they want, or just try it a few times...no pressure, just the chance to experience something "old school"!  I do think it would be really cool if we blogged about doing this, share what our kids think of it.  They may hate it!  LOL!!

If you have any other ideas or suggestions for this little project, please let me know!  I just came up with this on the fly, but thought it would be super fun!

Oh, and feel free to pass this along to other bloggy friends, or post about it and link to me.  It never hurts to see where something might go!

Thought Filled Thursdays

Have I ever told y'all about my kitchen addiction?  Your lucky...up until now!  I love kitchens.  I love everything about them.  I love looking at them, playing in them, all the tools and gadgets in them, the furnishings...ALL of it!  If there was any one thing I could change about my house, it would be my kitchen, and yes, Tab knows this!  Don't get me wrong, I love my kitchen for many reasons, mostly its size.  It's by far the largest area of our house, which is exactly how I would want it to be.  It just needs an overhaul.  So I dream about the changes I want to make.  All of the appliances have been replaced, except for the stove/oven, which we won't replace until ours goes to appliance heaven.  It's been in the house since 1984.  This baby is still going strong!  So when it goes, I'll pick out a new one, but I haven't even looked at those yet.  Mostly I have just been looking at gadgets, tables, decor...you know, the fun stuff.  Here are a few of the things I "want".

Williams-Sonoma

 Citrus Slicer                           

    














                       Flexible Cutting Boards

Glass Mixing Bowls                      

                           Island Table

Italian Tomato Press                  

                Glass Food Storage Containers

These things make me happy!  Now I have the glass containers, but these are a tad different than mine, and would make great additions to the tones I do have.  And the glass mixing bowls, they're an addiction, seriously.  I already have several sets.  But I would still buy more.  I also love to use them for ingredients that I set on the table.  Like cheese, butter for bread, salsa, you get the idea.  I think I may have a problem when it comes to cutting boards too.  I already have a set that looks identical to these, only mine aren't flexible.  And I have a large bamboo cutting board, and a large glass cutting board!  The citrus slicer is for pure laziness.  I hate cutting any citrus, and this is a really cute little gadget.  Now the tomato press....ahhhhhhhhh {this is the ahhh like when you get into a nice relaxing bubble bath!}.  I don't buy jarred spaghetti sauce.  I make it.  And to have this would be so stinking cool!  I just use my food processor right now, and it works, but this would be so much better!  Did I mention that my birthday is in May? Hehehe!!!  What kitchen things do you love?

Blockbuster Deal

 
How many times in your life has a DVD saved the day? From entertaining fidgety kids on long trips to curing the rainy day blues, I think we can all agree that renting a DVD can be a busy Mom's secret weapon.

As a busy Mom, I know that there isn't always time to even rent a DVD. Taking the whole family down to your local movie rental store can end up being an hour long ordeal.  By the time you get home you're too tired to even watch the movie and what seemed like a great idea ended up being quite a chore. Luckily, I've found the perfect solution!
 
Moms, here is your newest secret weapon: BLOCKBUSTER Express™ kiosks. They make renting DVDs fast, easy, and affordable! You can rent DVDs online for only $1 per night at blockbusterexpress.com and you don't even need a membership to do it.

 

Through the rent online feature at blockbusterexpress.com, you can create a favorites list, browse available movies at your preferred kiosk, complete the rental of up to three movies at once online and then pick up the DVDs from the kiosk at your convenience. Now you can spend less time renting and more time enjoying your DVDs with your family. 

 

Start planning your next movie night tonight! BLOCKBUSTER Express offered a special Rent One Get One Free coupon code.  The coupon code is 555G13B.

When you rent a movie at the regular price using the code in the banner above, you'll receive the first night's rental on the second movie FREE.
This offer expires on 3/31 so make sure to take advantage of it soon and encourage your friends to do the same!

 

While BLOCKBUSTER Express may be the go-to source for movie rentals, they know that Moms are the authority when it comes to spreading the word!

Prayer Needed!!!

Update:
Well, I don't have a lot of answers.  They did an EKG and an ECHO yesterday.  The Cardiologist came in last night and said that based on the EKG, she definitely has an irregular heartbeat, and now we have to figure out why.  After the bloodwork came back, he said that her potassium was low.  So they've been giving her potassium.  This morning he told us that she has a "weak" heart.  But, I'm not sure what that means?  Monday they are going to do a heart cath.  They want to see if she has a clog, or blockage.  If so, then they will just fix it then.  If not, and they find something more, then they will talk about surgery later.  They also think its possible that she may have an electrical problem.  So for now, its just a waiting game.  Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

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I don't have any details yet, but my step-mom has been admitted to the hospital.  Please be with us!

Thought Filled Thursdays

I've been browsing Anthropologie again.  I know, I should just stop.  But I can't.  I want to take a vacation to their store.  And spend a week there.  Dreaming....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Back to reality!  Here are my latest "really, really wants"...LOL!!!

-Do you talk to yourself?  I do it ALL the time.  Just wanted to see if any of you do too?  Hey, I never claimed these Thought Filled Thursdays would make any sense!  They're simply that...the odd thoughts that swirl around in my silly little head!

-Here's another good one.  Car seats.  I am a car seat Nazi.  I always check out what people have their kids in, if anything.  I like to know that people understand the importance of child safety.  Not just that you have a car seat, its also that you use it, have it belted in properly, which means good and snug!  I was so bad while Caroline was in her infant carrier, and her toddler seat, that I used to get in them myself to make sure they were strapped down as much as I possibly could get them!  But I'm just not happy with what they have for her now.  Any suggestions?

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We went and took Caroline bowling this weekend!  She had such a good time!

I finally got around to getting me a new camera strap!  Isn't it cute?

Hope everyone is having a good week so far!

Pure Love

Enough said.

Thought Filled Thursdays

It's been awhile, I know.  I have so much I need to put in this post, so don't runaway!

I'll start off with a funny Caroline story.  I always show her when I change the blog up, and see what she thinks.  So over the weekend, I pulled it up and asked her what she thought.

Me:  Boog, did you see the new blog design?

Caroline:  Yes.

Me:  Well, what do you think?  Do you like this one?

Caroline:  Well yea, but why do you always {lots of drama here}have to put a picture of me up there?

Me:  Because you're mostly what my blog is for.

Caroline:  Oh...well can't you just once put Tab up there?

I just started laughing!  She cracks me up.  So then I asked her if she didn't like her picture being on my blog and she said that she likes it, but I should just change them out sometimes!  I thought, oh boy...we're getting into the embarrassed age, and I'll have to take her picture off, but no, she said I should just put me & Tab on it too because it's about all of us! 

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Something to look for...Remember that Pay it Forward post?  It was almost a year ago...well if you commented on it, be checking your mailbox for a little treat!  And Elyse, if your reading this, email me so I can get your address, I seem to have lost it!

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I have really wanted a new bible for some time now, and just haven't gotten around to going to look.  Well, last week while Caroline was at gymnastics, I ran to the pet store to grab a few things.  Our Family Christian Bookstore happens to be around the corner from the pet store, and I just had this urge to go in there.  I walked in, and knew right where I was headed.  I stood looking at the wall of new bibles and was thrown for a spin.  There were so many to choose from!  I knoew I wanted more than just a standard bible, but I didn't know what I was looking for.  I was immediately drawn to the title of one:  True Identity.  Hmmmm?  Now some might say I was drawn to the super cute girly cover, but that's just not true { it was just an added bonus!}.

True Identity: The Bible for Women

Discover your true identity in Christ through his Word! The Bible that helps you see yourself as God sees you. No matter what your stage in life, you’re probably facing a challenge or a change. Whatever you're facing, you probably share your struggles with a friend. Now imagine your friend has incredible wisdom and is available anytime of the day or night! That’s what this Bible is about: becoming who you are in Christ through your relationship with him.

Features:

• 100 “Myth” articles—States a commonly accepted myth that the world tells you is true, then refutes the myth with the truth of God’s Word
• 30 “Ask Me Anything” notes—Profiles a woman from the Bible in an interview format where the biblical woman speaks to the modern readers about the life issue she faced
• 200 “Conversations” notes—Penetrating questions to reflect on, either alone or with a friend or mentor
• 200 “He Is” callouts—Highlights an attribute of God as shown or taught in Scripture and teaches how that affects a woman’s identity
• 300 “At Issues” notes—Short teaching notes on life topics such as money, sex, or pride.
• 66 book introductions
• Topical index
• Back matter articles on topics such as mentoring, developing a consistent quiet time, Bible reading plans, memorizing Scripture, etc.

I really love this Bible.  Please take a quick peak at it, you won't regret it!

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Just look at this face...

 

Caroline & Hayden

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And right now, Caroline and I are loving this!  Yummy!  We mix a little Italian dressing, pecans, and crispy onions, then put it into a whole wheat tortilla with lettuce and some Parmesan cheese...Y.U.M.M.Y!!!!

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Here's a quick look at the mailbox I was working on recently!  I can't wait to see if the customer loves it!

 

  

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I have a wall of Crosses at home, and just can't stop adding to it!  Here's a few I've transformed recently!

 

And here is a new piece I made just because!

Hope you all have a GREAT day!

Rainbow Brite Review

 

Do you remember the days of Rainbow Brite?  I know I do!  I loved Rainbow Brite!  I'm so excited that she's back.  Caroline got the chance to play The Rainbow Brite Adventure Pack computer game, and she is loving it! The songs are really fun and the games are great! Caroline really likes the puzzles.  And, when you complete certain things or get a certain amount of points, you get a piece of a poster that you can print off, which Caroline thinks is the coolest thing ever!   I received a total of 10 cds, so that I could share them, and I have given them to a few teachers, friends, and some of my co-workers with little girls.  I really like that Rainbow Brite is back, a decent, cute, non-offensive role model for our little girls!  So much better than some of the other things out on the market!

If you or your daughter is looking for some some fun new toys, check out Rainbow Brite. You can find Rainbow Brite products just about anywhere now, so go look and see what your little girl might like!