He did it!!!!

Hubs finally graduated. He walked across that stage today around 12:45 making him a bonafide college graduate!!! We were all there to witness it. We had a great weekend celebration with lots of friends and family. We are all so proud of his accomplishment! I am especially proud of him for taking such a leap of faith years ago and making his dream come true.

Staking my claim....

before any of my friends, family, or random stranger on the street takes my names.

"BIG" if...If we were to have another kiddo (or as my mother has already tried to curse me with twins), I'm officially staking claim on these two names.

Ellie Jane (instead of Jean since that will be too Mother Goose with our last name)
Eric Cole (Family name on my MIL's side)

Now don't go all balistic on me asking me if I'm pregnant or seriously considering a 3rd. I am just claiming these just in case the thought enters my mind. I know what you are thinking...you keep talking about it not crossing your mind all the time so it must be crossing your mind sometime. I need a husband to take partnership with a job, a cute little boy in Kindergarten, an adorable little girl potty trained and a job with less hours before that fantasy can come true. All in due time....

1-800-Roto-Rooter

We have had a rather interesting week at the Paradise household. The kids came down with the roto virus on Monday for Bubby and Tuesday for Buggers. We were blessed with tons of vomiting and diarrehea. They finally got relief on Wednesday night. But God has a sense of humor and decided to strike hubs and I late Wednesday night. We are all feeling better as of today. And just in time for Hubs big graduation weekend. We have lots of people coming in and lots of things planned.

Let the Party begin...........

Bye Bye Bady

Well it is official we no longer have a baby in the house. We have taken down the crib after its almost 4 year existence in our house. Buggers has been sleeping in her big girl bed for about 2 months now. It was taken up some much needed play space in her room. It has its resting place in the attic for now until Hubs talks me into having another. But that may take some more flowers, shiny sparkly jewelry and a fancy vacation before that even crosses my mind.

Knead the Dough

and Pat the biscuits...


Hallelujah Mischa Barton has cellulite too

Checker once checker twice

Let's see how much of my to do list I actually got done.
1. clean yard - mow, edge, rake, sweep, and trim "Check, check check, check , check"
2. clean kitchen chairs and touch up paint
3. laundry, laundry, laundry "4 more loads to go"
4. take count of what i have for hubs graduation party "check"
5. drop goodwill stuff off "check"
6. softball game on saturday "cancelled :("
7. bathe/scrub dog
8. watch NCAA championship volleyball game on Saturday at 6 "out to eat but way to go Penn State"
9. grocery shop "check---did it tonight:
10. drop kids off on sunday with in laws for the last time check
11. watch a movie "check---if you considered that I was sleeping on the couch while it was playing"

Working for the Weekend

We had a great weekend here in paradise. We got up early on Saturday and spent about 4 hours outside cleaning up the yard. The kids had so much fun. They were caked in dirt from head to toe. Some friends (James and Brooke) of ours called us early Saturday morning and said they were going to be in the area. They came over and we had dinner and then of course you guessed it a fire. They are a great couple and it was nice to visit with them. James is a firefighter so he was being a good "Smokey the Bear" and teaching us all about fire. On Sunday we headed over to Nederland to drop off the kids. I was able to get my MIL started on the grocery game. I think once she gets the hang of it she is going to be really excited at how much money she will save. We went and ate with the Hooders then headed over to the Hooders' parents to show them the kids. We got back really late late night but it was worth getting to visit with everyone.

Hubs surprised me with these on Friday night. I think out all the years we have been together this is the first time he has bought these for me. It is usually roses.



I love tulips. And yes that is 3 bouquets. (Stop cursing Leeza!!!!)

James and Brooke


Bubby


Us

50 Cents

Everyday Life

1.You have 10 dollars and need to buy snacks at a gas station:
dr. pepper, skittles, milk, apple juice, water, m&ms, and a take five

2. If you were reincarnated as a sea creature, what would you want to be?
can't I'm scared of the water

3. Whos your favorite redhead?
Me of course

4. What do you order when youre at IHOP?
biscuits and gravy with 2 scrambled eggs

5. Last book you read?
a murder mystery but can't remember the name

6. Describe your mood.
"just here"

7. Describe the last time you were injured?
today...I was playing volleyball barefoot and got a cut on the bottom of my big toe

8. Of all your friends, who would you want to be stuck in a well with?
Leeza...she would crack me up and make the situation livable

9. Rock concert or symphony?
Rock!!

10. What is the wallpaper of your cell phone?
Pic of Bubby in the bushes at Chuys

11. Favorite Soda?
Diet Root Beer

12. What type of shirt are you wearing?
White with a turquiose tank under it

13. If you could only use one form of transportation:
car...what other type is there

14. Most recent movie you have watched in theatres?
took the kids to see Horton Hears a Hoo

15. Name an actor/actress/singer you have had the hots for:
Vin Diesel he is so damn hot

16. Whats your favorite kind of cake?
My mom's homemade chocolate cake

17. What did you have for dinner last night?
Dirty Rice, green beans, and sausage

18. Look to your left, what do you see?
A dining room table full of Hubs school crap...when is graduation????

19. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Its summer flip flops don't have shoelaces

20. Favorite toy as a child?
My hundred barbies

21. Do you buy your own groceries?
Hell yeah I'm that crazy coupon lady who is always in front of you with her 2 inch high stack of coupons

22. Do you think people talk about you behind your back?
I know they do

23. Whens the last time you had gummy worms?
A few grocery trips ago when I took 3 from the Brach's candy bins. 2 for kiddos one for mommy

24. Whats your favorite fruit?
Watermelon

25. Do you have a picture of yourself doing a cartwheel?
No...but great idea

26. Do you like running long distances?
Used to run up to 4 miles really need to get back to that.

27. Have you ever eaten snow? Of course!!!

28. What color are your bedsheets? White

29. Whats your favorite flower? Hydrangea

30. Do you do ballet? No that takes coordination

31. Do you listen to classical music?
Yes I love to torture my teenage students with it

32. What is the 1st TV Theme song that pops in your head? Grey's Anatomy

33. Do you watch Sponge bob?
No and thank god my kids are old enough for it

34. What temperature is it outside right now? weather.com says 79

35. Do people consider you smart? I hope so

36. How many piercings do you have? 2

37. Are you signed on AIM?
yes IMing for more than 10 years

38. Have you ever tried gluing your fingers together? yes

39 .How do you feel about your family?
I love them and wish we were closer

40. Do you have an iPod?
You mean that little piece of heaven

41. What time do you go to bed? around 11:30 or 12

42. What CD is currently in your CD player?
in the truck Dave Matthews Band and in the car Our Lady Peace

43. What movie do you know every line to? Grease

44. What is your favorite salad dressing? Ranch

45. What do you want for Christmas this year?
a new dishwasher and I don't mean Hubs

46. What family member/friend lives the farthest from you? Where?
my sister is in Illinois :( may not be the farthest but it feels like it is

47. Do you like hugs?
from my hormonal husband defintely...from my hormonal teenage boys definitely not

48. Last time you had butterflies in your stomach? yesterday

49. Whats the way people most often mispronounce any part of your name?
I get holly sometimes

50. Last person you hugged? hugging Bubby right now while typing

TGFF-Thank goodness for fire

Have I mentioned that I love our fire pit? Hubs and I fired it up on Tuesday since the kids were gone and we were kinda bored. Not quite sure if our neighbors enjoy it as much as us. I'm sure they are getting sick of the late night fire fests. Tradition has it already that we fire is up on Saturdays with whoever is available to come over.

Weekend to do list

1. clean yard - mow, edge, rake, sweep, and trim
2. clean kitchen chairs and touch up paint
3. laundry, laundry, laundry
4. take count of what i have for hubs graduation party
5. drop goodwill stuff off
6. softball game on saturday
7. bathe/scrub dog
8. watch NCAA championship volleyball game on Saturday at 6
9. grocery shop
10. drop kids off on sunday with in laws for the last time
11. watch a movie

Necessity----1,3,6,7,10
Hopeful----2,4,5,8,9
Doubtful-----11

Does everyone's weekend to do list seem endless? I feel like all I do is go go go. I am determine it is never in a straight line that it is always in a circle. Round and round we go never really going anywhere. Guess this is what life is all about. I just need to stopp the running sometimes and enjoy a nice stroll. Perfect example, yesterday after I got home we took the kids down to the pond to see the ducks. On the way back Buggers was determined to pull the wagon versus riding in it. She strolled along looking at all the scenery. We passed by a house with lots of landscaping and she said "Momma stop...flowers". Then she stopped and went over to one and smelled it. She looked up at me and said "ummmm pretty". She proceeded to do this again. We all need to try to remember to stop and smell the flowers along the way in this rat race of ours.

Float

“When the tides of life turn against you and the current upsets your boat, don't waste those tears on what might have been, just lie on your back and float.”

April Showers will bring May flowers

I am so thankful May is here. Our April showers brought thunder, lightning, and a couple of tornadoes our way. It has been a tough month in a lot of aspects but hopefully May will bring sunny skies. It is so hard to believe that May is here today and that our 4 year journey of Hubs being in school is coming to an end. I know that this is going to be short lived because he wants to start on his Master's in the fall. I am encouraging him to continue his dream. But my dining room table is not so happy about it. It has been the home to all his school stuff for years. We don't even eat there anymore unless out of necessity.

I am excited for Hubs he has an interview on Monday with a school. I hope he does well with it and gets the job. He has been pretty stressed lately about finding a job. Any job will be fine with me!!

School is finally in the home stretch. I am excited about working summer school this summer. It will be a new experience for me since I will be in charge of it instead of teaching. I think it will be good for me to get that experience under my belt. I am also hoping to start my masters soon. Probably not in the fall like I would like to since my schedule is really full in the fall with volleyball. But maybe in the spring.

Sorry this is kinda a ho hum blog. That is kinda how my day has started out. I hope it gets better. But sometime you just have these kind of days. I do get to see my kids today. They have been at my parents since Sunday and I miss them terribly. So maybe that will be the thing that brightens my day.

Mamacita turns 21

My SIL turned 21 on Saturday. We headed to her favorite restaurant to celebrate. We had a great time. A balloon guy came around and made the little kiddos some funny hats. Of course being big kids, we couldn't resist putting them on also.



Bubby has been working on his "Hook 'ems"


Mamacita

Uncle Davita

Senor Hubs

Senorita de Red

Little Senorita Bebe

Senor BIL


Hope you had a great birthday and glad you are finally legal :)

Fire it Up

My parents came over on Saturday to celebrate Buggers birthday. My sister and brother in law came over also to enjoy the evening. We had a picnic out on on the deck. I made a big pot of jambalaya and chili dogs. Hubs fired up the pit. Hubs, my dad and I sat out there until almost 1 in the morning. My dad was telling us some stories about when he was a young man. It is amazing what a little free entertainment can stir up. The best part of the fire is sitting around just hanging out and talking.

I am birthday girl!!!

Buggers turned 2 on Saturday. She opened presents on Saturday night and then had her party on Sunday with all her friends and family. It is so hard to believe that she is 2 already. But to tell you the truth the past two years have come and gone so fast. I have been told to cherish every moment with your children because one day they will be walking out of your house starting their own lives. I can certainly understand how that can happen.

Buggers had such a good two days. She really understood that it was all about her. I can't wait to watch her grow into a beautiful young lady. She is such a special little girl with so much to give to this world.

I lost 5 inches today!!

Check out my new haircut

Eye Love You

Stylin' and Profilin'

Bubby has become our independent, self dressing, cowboy boot wearing little 3 year old. He has learned that mommy and daddy are ok with him getting himself dressed. Plus he can now reach the clothes in his closet. I have been quite impressed with his choice of clothes. He actually matches the majority of the time. Then there are times when he doesn't. Note picture below. I don't have the heart to tell him to go change. That would destroy his little heart and make him think that I don't approve of his choices.

Don't get me wrong if he comes dressed like this, I will tell him to march his little a** upstairs and take that crap off.

But until then baby you can keep wearing your orange shorts and red shirt with your cowboy boots.

Spring Cleaning

I became very ambitious yesterday and started spring cleaning in our room. I found all kinds of things. To name a few: brand new box of nursing pads, shoes from pagent, mocassins, my mamaw's broches, and this....

Yes folks that is my crown from 10 years ago. Not many people know about this little accomplishment in my life. Hubs thought it was so funny and decided to snap a pic. I also found some pants that I wore not long after Buggers was born. I saw myself in a video one time with these on and the phrase "Tell 'em Large Marge sent ya" came to mind. I hid the pants from sight until they rose from the dead on Saturday. So being that hubs was feeling nostalgic he decided to showcase what he calls "all my hard work".



I have one bedroom down and 2 to go. Then it is off to the downstairs. Anyone else started spring cleaning?

Putting on the Ritz