Fair Week - Part Two

Get ready for picture overload of my girl!  We wrapped up the fair this weekend and as usual, I'm glad to see it gone for another year.  Whew!

Since it was free entry Thursday, we went out after work so Bella could check out all the exhibits.  We really didn't do much, just kind of walked around to see everything and say hello to our friends at the cook-off.

"Brothers and sisters are friends".....Bella

And we all are most of the time.  haha

Friday we hit the rides and let me tell you, this was probably the most fun for both Bella and I.  Bella really loved the fast rides this year.  She would get off hollering "woohoo" and ready for the next.  I loved it because she was so happy and excited.

Decision, decisions...what should I do next?

  

These were the only two good pictures I got of her with the animals. There were so many kids in there that the animals were running all over the place.  I think it was overload for them.  It made me a little nuts too.  Needless to say, we didn't stay long because it was not as enjoyable as past years.

Back to the rides...

Before she got on this ride, she gave me specific instructions.  

"Now mommy, when I get on here, you need to take my picture and send it Paul."

These are the pics I got, and he loved them!

Pause for a selfie with my girl...

Later that night we were back at the cook-off.  Bella was content with some friends she made so Lauren and I took a walk to go see another co-worker who was in the cook-off as well.  We stopped for a pic of us with our matching koozies.  You can't see the writing on them, but they say, 

"I Love Jesus But I Drink A Little"

Me and brother waiting on awards at the cook-off.  

Our friends didn't place but the food and company were awesome!

Lastly, I didn't plan on entering anything in the Kitchen Pride Bake Show or the Rice Plus Cook-Off this year but after receiving holy hell from co-workers and friends on Thursday, I reconsidered.  They all said "you must defend your honor" so I came up with a recipe and look what happened.  Yours truly took home first place and grand champion in the Rice Plus Cook-off with a Rice-Pumpkin Bread.  The same recipe took second in the Kitchen Pride Bake Off.  Bella was so excited for her mommy.  I guess I have found my talent...baking!

Glad we are starting a new week and the fair is gone.  I do have an interesting weekend coming up.  I may or may not have been talked into going to an Aggie game.  I know, I know....I'm still struggling with it.  But as my crazy cousin pointed out, its football, good food, good drinks and family!  I can't argue with that.  Y'all have a good one!

Fair Week - Part One

Last Friday was the first day of the annual Brazoria County Fair.  Its no secret that I love the fair, but I will say that as much as I love it, it is getting more expensive every year to spend as many days there as I'd like.  The kiddos were with their dad last weekend so this momma had a free weekend.  I started Friday night by going to see Clay Walker at the fair.  Oh man, he was so stinkin' good.

I would love to be able to tell you he is singing his hit "Fall" right here but I can't.  I was so into the song when he was singing that my phone never made it out to get a pic.  I stole this one from Lauren.
The one below is mine.  :)

I went with Lauren, her husband and his mom.  Lauren and I were chomping at the bit to get there.  We didn't want to miss our man singing to us. 

My sister was working that night with the 4H group servings drinks.  I was just about to text her when she found me dancing and singing. She said she recognized my hips when they were swinging.  LOL!!  

And then I ran into these two cuties who obliged their Aunt's request for a picture with them

Saturday morning, Lauren and I went to the parade.  I hadn't planned on going but found it mid-week that Bella would be in the parade with her daddy on the BASF float.  I had to go now!  I also found out my niece Makenna was also going to be in the parade.  

Here we are hiding from the sun.  

When we first arrived, there was not a cloud in the sky but thankfully some clouds started rolling in to shield the sun off and on.  Lordy it was hot.  

Here's my girl with her daddy....

And here's Makenna on the YAC float...

Later that night, Makenna and Brandon were in the calf scramble so Lauren and I headed back up to the fair to watch them. I'd love to be able to share some great shots with you of them wrangling calves, but I did too much screaming and hollering.  I did get after pics though.  Brandon caught, Makenna did not.  However, Makenna snagged the hardluck/sportsmanship award so she received a calf as well.  Makenna helped several other kids out and in the process gave up her rope.  Luckily one of the committee members saw all of her efforts while in the arena.

Two nuggets post scramble...

Proud Aunt

That wrapped up the first weekend of the fair.  Roger Creager and Cody Johnson played that night but after we came back from getting a bite to eat, there were entirely too many people and kids everywhere so Lauren and I called it a night at 10:15.  I must be getting old because I had no desire to deal with a bunch of teenagers.  Funny story about Roger Creager.  So Cindy, Lauren and I are walking back from the arena to the 4H tent.  As we are coming out of the area where the concert is we here a gator honking so people will move and they can cross the road.  As they cross right in front of us and Lauren hollers "Hey, thats Roger Creager!"  Roger turns around around and gives her a wave!  So freaking awesome.  None of the other fifty million kids there recognized him. ha!

We will be back at the fair probably tomorrow since it is a free entry and then again on Saturday.  Bellamy Brothers are playing and I'd really like to hear a few of their hits.  We'll see if I can negotiate that with Bella.  

Have a good one!

Wasn't The Plan

I didn't plan on ignoring my blog for almost a month but that's what happened. Truth is, work has been crazy busy that I'm mentally exhausted whenever I get home that I just want to relax and not think about anything for at least 30 minutes, or longer. The last few weeks of school were a blessing because Bella had no homework (thank you Jesus) so other than making sure Christopher had all his work turned in and was prepared for finals, it was relatively easy. These last two weeks of work has had my anxiety and stress levels at an all time high. I finally hit a breaking point yesterday. Thank goodness for co-workers who were willing and able to jump right in to help a girl out.  I actually left work on time yesterday thanks to their help.  I came home, ordered pizza for supper, grabbed an ice cold beer and sat outside for a while with my sweet kids. I'm out here again tonight for a bit. It feels too nice to be inside, although we need to spray the yard because those pesky mosquitoes keep finding us.

My vacation time is just around the bend and I can't wait to be off and relax for a good 12 days. Other than maternity leave, this will be the most time I have ever taken off from work. We will start out at the beach house this year and end at the river. Momma can't wait. The kids are pretty anxious too.

Speaking of the kids, they are happy to be done with school, well Bella is. Christopher has to take 3 weeks of summer school to get a half credit in English. He failed the first semester, past the second but not enough to pass for the year. I'm not even going to get into this because I have talked and cried enough for everyone and then some. He will take care of business these 3 weeks and go into his senior year ready to kick ass all year. Bella ended the year with the A/B Honor Roll. She has already checked out books to read for the summer and almost done with summer reading program where she can receive a free book, just for reading 10.  Of course Christopher thinks this is nuts. Can you say night and day?

Well I'm going back inside because although I have sprayed, the mosquitoes still love my legs. Hope y'all are all well and enjoying your summer.

Love & hugs!

Cookies From The Heart

Today was very much needed extra day off for me and the kids.  I knew it was supposed to be a rainy day so I told Bella we could bake cookies if she wanted to.  Boy she jumped at that.  She was watching Pioneer Woman with me last weekend and saw these cookies and wanted to make them so that's what we we did.

A few things about these cookies.  Chilling the dough is required which was no problem, but I did learn that I roll out dough too slow.  I had to chill the dough again after cutting only 4 cookies.  It became too sticky and once the cookies were cut, I had a hard time getting them from board to baking sheet without messing them up.  The other thing you should know is instead of using flour when rolling out your dough, you use cocoa powder.  I just thought flour made a mess.  No comparison.  After chilling the dough three times, we got 15 cookies and called it good.  I probably could have gotten 2 more but I was done chilling and rolling.  :)

Here are our results...

Instead of stenciled letters, I used a smaller heart shaped cookie cutter for the powdered sugar.  Using a small x-acto knife, I traced/cut the heart out of wax paper.  Placed the wax paper on top of the cookie, then sprinkled the powdered sugar on top.  Bella thought this was GENIUS!!  I love that I can still impress the heck out of my 8 year old. 

The cookies are good.  They are very, very chocolatey. I like chocolate but I'm not a big fan of chocolate, if that makes any sense at all.  If I'm baking a cake, it will be a yellow cake, not chocolate. Every now and then I'll crave chocolate, but not at the top of my got to have it, love, love, love it list.  Christopher wouldn't touch them.  He's never been a chocolate fan either, but give him Reese's Peanut Cups and he'll love you forever.  Bella loves them.  No surprise there.  I think I will stick with my Sweeties.  Now that's a cookie I love but have never attempted to make before.  I think I don't want to mess with perfection.  ha!  

The last I left y'all, I mentioned a procedure I was having last week.  That procedure revealed that yours truly has a stomach ulcer.  Queen Bee worrier right here!  I have a follow-up appointment tomorrow afternoon to see what else my doctor says but he has increased my meds to twice daily for a month and then I'll have a repeat scope in 6-8 weeks.  In the meantime, I am trying very hard to reduce my stress. How to exactly do that, I really have no idea.  Baking and cooking has always been relaxing and therapeutic for me, except when cookie dough kicks your ass.  :)  I also need to make time to get out and walk.  If I could take time off from work, I would totally do that as well, but its not in the cards right now.  I'm also adjusting my diet a little more, but if anyone can tell me where the switch is in my head to turn off the worrying and the stress, please let me know.   

Y'all have a good one!  

Be Gentle February

Oh man this month is full of emotions.  A roller coaster if you will.  I'm going in trying to be positive but there are times when I wish we could just skip this month.

Thinking positive....

My friend Steffani posted this picture/Valentine's Day idea on FB yesterday...

I kicked this off last night after the kids were asleep.  I wrote a note to each of them and taped them on the wall in the hallway.  I have no idea if Christopher noticed it before leaving this morning but Bella sure did.  She thought it was the coolest thing.  I think its pretty cool too. I'll take a pic and show y'all as it progresses or we're done.  ;)

This next picture just made me laugh out loud because if I'm being honest....this is reality.

Let's talk about the very first item under daily because I close the door to Bella's room all the damn time.  Y'all, I will get in there and clean, organize and throw so many pieces of paper away, its crazy.  Christopher has done the same but she will inevitably get in there and trash her room.  I shouldn't say "trash" because its not like that but it certainly looks like Tornado Bella went through there.  I have threatened the last item under Daily more times than I can remember, and some things have "disappeared" on cleaning days when she is not home.  When I read this list, I seriously thought that somebody had been watching me to create this list.  Sad, but very true.  Thankfully, I do have a lady who comes to clean my house every two weeks so that helps but during the holidays and other times of the year when we skip a cleaning, its a clorox wipe to the countertops.  I have walked into Bella's tornado thinking I'll clean, stood there and laughed trying to keep from crying and then just walked away shaking my head.  I definitely did not get the "I love to clean" gene.  

Thinking positive...have to be positive.

Y'all have a good one!

God Is Good

Yesterday was one heck of an agonizing day.  Leading up to this day was a week and a half of pure worry.  It tested my faith and my strength.  Both of which needed some nurturing.  A huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I have taken many sighs of relief.  I love my kids and my family more than anything and I am so very thankful for this journey, this path of life I have been given and I am embracing it.  Yesterday was a tough reminder of how precious it is.  It was also a good reminder that all those little things are just simply that, little.  I had a scare and it was big enough to shake me up again.  I am grateful.  I am happy.  God is good.

  

Well...

Honey and I made it another month, but it ended this past weekend.  This is what he wanted.  I really do understand, but I am heartbroken.  He is in a bad place right now and needs to focus on himself. He is frustrated with life and the way things have not been working out for him. Those frustrations are sometimes directed at me in that he will take a question I ask the wrong way or something I say the wrong way and we end up in an argument.  He doesn't want that.  Neither do I.  He can't be here for me right now in any way, and its not fair to me.  Our conversations are not frequent enough, our time together is not enough, nothing is enough.  We are both frustrated but his focus is where it needs to be and I will not be the one to disrupt it.  We love each other very much.  Maybe one day we can be together.  We just can't be together now.

I'm So Excited

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it!

Everyone who has said good morning to me today has followed up with a "how are you?" and I'm all like "its my Friday!!!"  And they are like....you're so lucky!!  And I'm like, "yes I am'!!

It has finally cooled off a bit here so that helps with this funk I've been in. This weekend with girlfriends and shopping in Canton will help too. I have taken off a couple extra days so I will have a 5-day weekend.  I have the vacation time and well, it will be nice to have time to prepare for my trip and then have a day to recoup when I get back.  Bella is excited I will have some days off because that means she gets to be a car rider and mommy can pick her up.  Not so happy I'll be gone for a few days but she will be with her dad so she'll be fine.

I mentioned before that I really don't have anything particular I'm looking for this trip.  I've been kinda looking around the house, on the walls, etc to see where I might want to add something.  I do have some space above the cabinets in the kitchen that I could hang some things.  Its all empty because I really can't decide what to put there and too, some things are just too big.  I dislike that space.  If there is going to be space, then it should be open so I can display things on top of the cabinets.  Otherwise, the cabinets should go all the way to the ceiling. Its wasted space in my humble opinion. This trip will be more of a look and see what I find type deal.  I still want a large clock to hang in the living/dining area.  There was one I saw in Canton last year that I am still kicking myself for not picking up.  I have seen it in the homes of two other bloggers I follow and I am super jealous because it looks great and would be a perfect fit in my home as well.  I have searched for it online and found it but at a price I'm not willing to pay.  Not when I know it was much less in Canton. Maybe I'll find something else this year.  Or maybe, just maybe, one day I will finally walk into Hobby Lobby and buy a damn clock when they are half off and be done with it.  I'm telling you, I can be very indecisive about things and other times, I can make a quick decision.  Weirdo.

It will be fun trip to see what quirky things I find for home or if I find any Christmas gifts along the way. That is a whole other story.  I have two gifts purchased. One of my friends posted a picture of her wrapping gifts on FB the other day.  She has ordered everything online and is just about done. She wraps everything as it comes in so her kids can't see what she's bought.  I'm so jealous.

So there you have it....my excited but jealous and opinionated and somewhat indecisive Wednesday!    

I'm more excited than anything...............

   

A Taste of 1964

Saturday afternoon I cleaned out my closet, pulled out some clothes that have seen their better days and the ones that don't care for my size anymore.  Traders! 

A while back, I received my mom's wedding dress from her sisters.  There isn't much left of it since it was discovered in the attic of their parent's house but its still her dress and for now I'm holding onto it as I may have something made out of it at a later date.  It has been in a bag in my closet so as I was cleaning it out, I decided I would put it in my hope chest with her veil which is still in very good condition.  Take a look...

I sent this picture to my sister who asked if I was playing dress up.  My reply was of course because we always try things on when we are cleaning stuff out and organizing.  She agreed.   If I could have put her dress on, I totally would have done that as well. Ha!  

Here is my beautiful momma in her gorgeous dress and veil in 1964...

 

A black & white of me just because...

The older I get, the more I hear that I look just like my momma.  

A beautiful compliment indeed.

Wine & Wood

Remember back in February when I attended my first painting party?  Well, last Friday I went to my first wood painting party hosted by my same friend, Amye Jo.  This was so much fun.  We had a larger group of ladies this time but it made for an even better time.

This process took a little longer than the other party, partially because we had more people but too, there are several steps to this project as well.  And again, we had an excellent teacher!

Painting and staining our boards...

Getting our stencil ready...peeling all the letters out

Once you peel out all your letters, etc., you center it, 

stick it on your board and smooth out

Then you get a partner to help you peel the backing off...

Next, you begin dabbing your colors on. 

First you put a seal on with your "base" color

Then you add the color for your wording...

You layer this color twice.  

By the time you get to the third round, you're tired of dabbing.  

Dabbing becomes your worst enemy. Ha!

After this you rip off the stencil.  This was funny because all of us forgot that we had just dabbed our wording onto the board with paint, so we were all thinking that if we ripped the stencil, we would rip our words off.  Crazy girls.  You then take your handy dandy tool to pick out the pieces that are still stuck on your board as well as the insides of your letters.  Again, this is where everyone helped out those of us who had larger quotes.  

And our finished products!!!

I have a few extra paint spots but I have learned to like them.  They are in spots I didn't get a good seal with my stencil and where the wood was imperfect.  It makes it imperfect like me :).  I love it even more because I made it.  

I am signed up to attend a Java and Wood Painting Party in November.  We are doing Autumn/Thanksgiving themed signs (SQUEAL)!! Y'all know its my most favorite time of the year so I'm especially excited about that one.  I have also been invited to a Christmas party the first weekend in December but I'm having second thoughts about it because its going to be a rather extra large party, she's topping off at 40 people.  I'm not sure I want to do that.  I mean, I'm all about making a sign for Christmas, but I'm not sure I want to with 39 other people.  I like intimate small groups.  Call me weird, I can handle it. One thing you should know for sure is if I go, I will share my results with y'all.
Hope you are having a great week.  I woke up with a massive headache that lingered with me throughout the day.  I would have been happy to have stayed home and slept but no such luck. Oh well.

Y'all be good.