late.....but just in time!

Easter Day........and look who showed up......

it's the Easter Bunny!

this sweet girl has a surprise for you!

I think there is something here...........not sure if the Easter Bunny left one here or not..........................

and it looks like one here on the sidewalk.......

so just a bit late posting Easter pics of my sweet little cheek-a girl..........better late than never, right!?!?

Easter was such a blast, we had the best time looking for eggs, Z did great, can't wait to do it again next year!

cutie pie!!!

look at this cutie pa-tootie! I had to post this, just to let ya'll know we are still alive and kickin!

I know I haven't posted in like forever, but you know how it goes......just been busy!

Stampin'Up! club - monthly project

We had a great "club meeting" the other night, and made quite a cute little project.

These are cute little bags made out of regular lunch bags. They are just the cutest-you can use them for just about anything, and they make cute little gift bags as well. I stuffed them with chocolates for Valentine's Day. I think I am making some more for Easter also!

We only had 2 members, and one "special guest", Jenifer, that came for the festivities........Lots going on around town here with the Southeastern Wildlife Expo- each year I say I am going to go experience the sights....maybe next year I can take my Z!

but we really enjoyed our time together anyway-their loss, right!?!?

Amber had some wonderful little nibblets that ya'll missed out on:)

Another Stampin'Up! club group is getting ready to start up if you are interested in joining, here are the details:

• The club runs for 6 months (a new one starts 1st Thursday in April)


• IF we have 6 people, it is 25.oo monthly, if 5 people join then it will be 30.00 monthly (it has to be an order of at least 150.00 to qualify for any hostess benefits)


• Each person gets to be hostess and recieve the hostess benefits when it is their turn to play hostess.


• Each month we make a quick little project that I provide (except adhesives)


• If you would like to join, please let me know ASAP, deadline is March 30, 2010.


• (You are welcome to bring a guest, just let me know at least 4 days before the monthly meeting so I can have the supplies ready for the project for them, if I am not notified, they will not be able to do the monthly project, but can still attend)


• What this means to each member, they will recieve at least a free stamp set, and freeeeeeeeee merchandise!!!! *the club member for this month recieved:

2 stamp sets! (1 level 1 and 1 level 3 hostess set)

60.00 in free merchandise!

this could be you getting the goodies! Call me!!!

Don't miss out on the fun!! Call me today to sign up!

snow???? IN CHARLESTON SC?? NO WAY!!!!---way!!!

This is my back yard, and yes this is snow, in case there are some of ya'll that have never seen this white powder-y stuff.
:)

This is the front yard, look how beautiful this is!!!

ok, I know...2 posts in one night....had to do this before I went to bed.

we really got snow! My parents aren't the only ones that get it! We just got such a huge surprise this year. Although I didn't get to play in it with Z, she got to play in it with a couple of fun kids and thier great Mommy that was watching her while I worked that day. Thanks Jeni, Dylan and Noah!

Eat your heart out, cause we sure got about 7 inches. of snow. yup. we did. party on Garth. party on Wayne.

Mickey Ears, Mickey key chain

I know, I know.........you haven't seen a blog from me in like over a month now.

I know, I know, I suck as a blogger! Busy, busy and just plain busy!

I have now gotten myself one of those J.O.B. things......after all the resume's I have put in, and all the hours and hours and hours and hours of searching on the computer, I finally got an interview! I really didn't want to cut hair again, and was hoping for an office type job-but you know.....I must take whomever comes first!

I went in for the interview on Friday and low and behold-I had to do a haircut for them so they could make sure I can hold a comb (haha!) and then they got busy so I just kept on cutting......and at the end of the day they said I was hired! yeah!

It seems like a busy shop, and the peeps seem decently cool.

Moving on to fun stuff---I had to post this pic of Z- Amber and Karla went to California for the scrapbook Convention and brought Z some fun stuff back.

Her first Mickey Ears!!!!! I can't wait till we get to wear these when we go the first time!!!

Thanks Auntie Amber and Gma Karla!!! I love it!!!

can you believe that it has been really cold here in Charleston lately? This morning was like 20* and guess who's heat pump goes out in their house?? You guessed it, mine. It has really been acting up here in the last 2 weeks, thankfully John's crazy-ass brother owns a HVAC business. But not to get side-tracked on my little story......Here is how it was last night: On the way over to his parents' house, I opened Zoie's wipes to wipe her nasty, runny nose. I proceeded to take a wipe out of the handy-dandy container, and guess what??!! They were freakin' stuck together!!! They were frozen!! I never would of thunk that!!! I wonder if that is even a word!!! haha!! I just thought that was sooooo stinkin' funny!! I have such a stupid sense of humor, my husband told me. HUMPH !! I thought it was hysterical!!!

We decided to stop and eat dinner on the way home from John's parents house....I had to cut his Dad's hair. No biggie, I was just so happy to see that his Dad was doing like.....5000% better than he had been doing for the last 2 months. He really looked and acted better. YEAH! We were told by his Dr. that his days were definitely numbered. Glad he was wrong. I still haven't seen his "expiration date" stamped on his butt. What do they know, anyway??!!
We spent our time with them......and on the way home instead of eating fast-food, we stopped at Golden Corral.
They have such a good deal....it's like 9.99 per person and Zoie eats free. So, I think I am being smart and us eating dinner there, (instead of stopping at McDonald's or whatever) and getting water instead of tea. = same price of McD's. I had this whole thing all figured out. Or so I thought.
John then lets me know that I have to spend MY ONLY 20.00 on our meal becaus HE needed his last 20.00 for lunch the next day, ya-da, ya-da whatever. Like food is like something we need to live on...or something like that....
I thought I was going to get to buy a stamp set or something with that money. Fat Chance.......I had diapers and dog food to get with that.......but anyhoo.....I have to take Zoie into the restroom to change her, and low and behold...I am changing her, nearly finished and someone in the restroom flushes the toilet, OMG!!! I thought a freaking jet engine landed right smack dab next to us!! We both jumped we were so startled. That was the LOUDEST toilet in history! They absolutely have no idea what that did to our ears!!! Damn them!! well needless to say........I am still asking Zoie to pick up her flash cards off the floor.....I don't think she can hear me.

just gorgeous!!

so I am sitting here with my little computer that I so dearly love in front of me. Yes, this is the one that my sister-in-law gave me last year (thank God, cause my other Vaio has crashed!!) ......she is technically not my SIL, but I claim her as my SIL. Our family just loves her! I thank her everyday that I get on this thing and let my fingers do some walking:)
I was just typing away at my computer and John looks up from making dinner and says "wow! U really got bit by something, and your top lit is as big as my finger now! I told him I thought I felt "that feeling" just a few seconds ago..... "That feeling" that I am describing is a really strange weirdness that goes over my body when I am bitten or stung by anything that has a little "venom" in it. It just makes me feel weird, and gives me the chills. I am just so freakishly blessed that way!! It will hopefully be gone by tomorrow - I have hair cuts to do! I will try to dig up a nice pic for you to see how my parents' wedding pic was with me getting stung by a bee right near my eyeball on thier wedding day, real nice, I tell ya!! My Mom always laughs now about that pic because I looked like a normal 4 year old girl with a gigantic blown up face!!!! good times I tell ya!!! Gotta love old pics!!!
I will try to dig that one up just for a laugh!!!!!

(had to post just to give Terry something new to read, now that she is back from the Stampin' Up convention!!--love ya girl!!)

endorphines

don't they say that if you work out it increases your endorphines? Well, I always believe things like that, and now I REALLY believe it!

I have started this whole weight/get healthy thing and obviously recruited my Mom, my sis-in-law and neice Amanda. We have all been talking about getting healthier, and so now we are sticking to our guns!

AND I LOVE IT!!! I love the feeling that it gives me just to do a yoga class; or just getting on the treadmill and burning off steam.

It really is nice that they also have childcare at Pivotal Fitness. I am going to get my Zozo into getting fit at an early age, hopefully. She is still a bit fussy, she has only been in the childcare play area 3 times now, but she will get better I am hoping.

The childcare workers have come and got me out of my sessions every time we have gone to the gym so far. She will get better.....I am convinced!

........moderation....

I love going there with my friends! We are doing great ladies! Yoga rocks!

ok.....so Yvonne and Jenifer....wanna do a spinning class next?
see ya there tomorrow!

I also have to try the kickboxing!! that looks like a whole lotta fun!

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

It is so amazing how kids love boxes more than the gifts that come in them! Auntie Sarah and Zoie had the best fun with this box. Mom got some great shots of them!

We woke up this morning, smelling something great downstairs.......(we are still at my brothers with my family) and Mom and Sarah had already gotten up and started breakfast. Not only did they make some cinnmon rolls, they also started stuff for Christmas dinner. Wow, they are on a roll. Here's the menu:

Turkey, Ham, Bread Pudding, Yams, Jello, Stuffing, Deviled Eggs, Mashed Potatoes, Mixed Veggies, Cranberries, Olives, rolls, Potatoes salad, green bean salad and Gluwein.

Sound good???!! Mom and Sarah are doing a fab job getting this all together!

Can't wait to eat! I believe we are going to have a wonderful meal!!!!

HO HO HO!!!! I hope you all have a wonderful day, and get to enjoy some wonderful family time. I sure am blessed to be with mine this year. John is with his family and I am with mine.

Have a great day, try to be good!!!!

showing a man how to find someone on Facebook.....that has never touched a computer. Interesting!!!!

so, we were just sitting here with Mom, Dad and Sarah. And I was commenting on Mom's blog about her posts. It is just soooo cute how my Mom writes her blogs:) We were trying to show Dad how to get onto the internet, and specifically on Facebook. Hmmmmm.......interesting!!........hmmmmm..... I wonder if that is what he is going to ask Santa for this year.

Probably not.

So, Z and I made it to North Carolina fine.......went to dinner, let Z play and now we are just GOOFING OFF !!!
Tomorrow we will pick up Travis' gift that Sarah got him......wait for Gpa Jim to get here, and whatever else comes our way.
Can't wait to see some of my uncles', and some cousins.

fun, fun, fun!!!!!


just wanted to say Merry Christmas once again!

trying to get the Christmas spirit

I am trying to get into the Christmas spirit today. After talking with Amber earlier, I really decided to TRY to get more into the Xmas music, movies and decorations. Well, I must now tell you that I at least put up my Xmas wreaths on the doors.

I had my reservations about putting a tree up, going in the attic and getting all the decorations out and making it look super festive in the house. I just think that Zoie will have WAY too much stuff to get into then. She is totally in the curious stage and is extremely fast now! I just think she will have a better concept of not eating plastic, glass and all that jazz next year. Zoie and I are leaving Tuesday morning to go to my brother's and his girlfriend's house to spend Christmas there with all of my family. My parents flew in Friday, so a few of my uncles' and some other family are coming to my brothers house as well. It is going to be a hoot I imagine!! My family is cool. But you know how it goes, there are still a few nuts in every batch of cookies!! And I cannot take any responses from that last sentence audience!!! :>)

Just want to wish everyone a very, very MERRY CHRISTMAS!! But I guess I better be politically correct as well and wish those of you that are not "CHRISTMAS" people.........a HAPPY HANNIKA (incrrct sp.), FELIZE NAVIDAD, HAPPY KWANZA AND SO FORTH! Don't want to upset anyone:) Hope everyone gets to spend precious time with friends, family and loved ones.

Peace out sistas!!!

PS- this pic of Zoie is a few months old now, but I just thought it was cute.......but she is always cute, right?!?

need to add this!

I sat and thought about how fortunate I am, just this morning. I really must say that I am a very blessed, fortunate and ultimately grateful for my support system: my friends. I love that I can pick up the phone (to 2 people in particular- you know who you are!!!!----- )and just ask their opinion, if I am crazy for thinking the way I do about things, or about just any random thought I have about anything.
I just had to say this, I sure do love my friends and family. I am soooooo very blessed. Thank you God. I could not have gotten through this last year and a half without you two. I love you my very best friends: Amber and Yvonne. I just love you guys so much. I really forgot to say this in the last post. You guys are very much appreciated.

very happy to be sleeping in my own bed!!!

So Z and I are back from our trip, and now I am back sleeping in my own very comfortable Sterns & Foster! Gotta just love those guys!!!
I have learned about a get-to-gether or two that I missed out on...........damn!! Tisha and Amber both had their parties' while I was away.........hmmmmmmmm......should I take this personally?!?! ........................nope.
I guess that will be ok but if it happens again............there will be HELL to pay for you two! (that is funny, if I say so myself!! :<)
So everything is nearly back to normal......except the fact that Z and I are still on
Seattle time. We got home Wednesday and we have slept in late, and stayed up even later! John is not diggin' that whole deal.
This morning started "Operation Potty Training". I am still trying to learn all the do's and don'ts of that whole deal. Very very time consuming I am learning. Good times!!!!!!! Good times!!!!!
So to start off our day, I go and get little Z immediately upon waking.....take her diaper off...... put her on her potty, kept trying to make up a "potty song", never had I thought of making up a demo tape for going potty but I wish I had before I needed it. (I may try to add music to it and market it!)
The little chick got up off her potty and stuck her hand in her potty, and then I realized her hand was wet.......she pee-peed on our very first attempt at potty training!!!!!! OMG! I WAS STOKED!! I clapped, hugged her, and we did a little dance! She got up off the potty and went to sit down beside her doggie brother Sammy boy, then hugs him. I thought, oh my, how stinkin' sweet! She gets up from hugging him, and then Sammy starts to eat something on the floor beside him.
I am now intrigued at what he is eating, so I get closer and realize that he is eating Z's poop on the floor! SERIOUSLY GROSS!!!!! I immediately try to move him away from it, and put Z back on her potty........clean up the remaining poop, (just pebbles thankfully!) and go back to the potty to get Z cleaned up. Then guess what?
There was poopy in the potty too!!!!!!!! She pee-peed and poo-pood!!!!
My baby is growing up!!!!
I was telling Vonny about this endeavor tonight as we were playing Skip-Bo (cards), and she said it was a fluke that Z knew what she was doing.
It probably was. She just turned 20 months. I know potty training cannot be this much fun! We just had a great day. Poop and all.
***Food for thought: get the dog out of the bathroom before potty training.

another great dinner with family and friends!

hello fellow bloggers!

to start where I left off from the last blog....I must tell you about court.

ok, soooooo, after my Mom had to "wrestle" Kim about the signing of papers....she finally succumbed to sign with her blessings. The papers were not stated exactly how she wanted them stated, beings that she wanted to add more visits.....but the state was not granting them any more than 1 a year....she got pissed. So....my Mom intervened once again and saved the day.

I cannot tell you how much I love my Mommy!! She is always dead-on with everything!

They brought the bio father in....and I was absolutely saddened how they treat people in handcuffs. I just broke down. My heart went out to him.....he really looked terribly sad. We were instructed not to try to talk, look or communicate with him at all. How freakin' barbarrack can you be??!!
The judge was extremely nice allowing me to hold Z up to give the bio father a hug during the hearing, once his attorney begged that he should be allowed to see the daughter he has never seen. It was such a sweet/sad moment. I feel very saddened that he is where he is in life.

I am extremely excited to now let you know the outcome of court.

I am supposed to have the paperwork in my hot little hands at least by Tuesday, to bring back home to give our attorney to start the whole adoption process!!! can you say, "finally!!!"

So we are celebrating, and we have family and friends over to share in the joy!

The pics that I am posting are of me and my little niece Amanda. She is now 20, and getting married on the 28th of Dec. to a cutie-pie named Chris, and he is serving in the Army right now.

So..........this is also a pic of her new ink on her forearm. She got it done yesterday. I am proud of my dad, (her grandpa) he said it was "not bad". He is a good boy for not lecturing her!

I have to explain the licking pic--I started doing that to her awhile ago....and just had to keep up the tradition!!! I just love my little niece!!

peace out cheek-aaaa's!!!!!!

It is freezing here!!!!

hey ya'll! it was literally 9 degrees here yesterday...(brrrr!!!! ) the day we had court. I will have to start from where I left off from the last post.
ok, so here goes. Z and I stayed with my youngest sister Kristi, her new hubby and the kids Sunday and Monday night. We had such a blast! The kids had fun playing together, running around and just being cute.....
Tuesday we headed back to "Papa's and Gramma Roddens" and then had an interesting call from my sister "the sister" (Z's bio) late that night. She was a bit angry and said that she had just left her attorney's office, and she was not signing the papers. I was dumfounded. I wanted to know what had changed in just the course of a couple of days....and then I realized she had probably had a few drinks as well.
So I got hung up on again, then she calls back and yells at me some more....and then I got hung up on for a second time. I just love to be hung up on! Don't we all!!??!!?? No biggie! Happens alot with her.....just the way it is. Her last words to me were "if you want to play hardball with me, then I will see you in court tomorrow". I will try to post the rest a little bit later, we are getting ready to go see another one of Z's auntie's and some more cousins.
stay tuned to "my crazy life".

Here in Seattle!!

yeah!!! Z and I FINALLY made it to Seattle, after sitting on the tar-mack for over an hour just waiting to depart from Charleston. I learned that it is quite a challenge to keep an infant occupied for hours on end, when they are restrained on your lap and cannot move. Pretty tough! Z did very well on the flight out here, I must admit. We had an incredibly long day, but she only went into "crazy wild" mode one time. I really tried to prepare everything in advance. I am talking down to the coloring book, her Baby, snacks, sippy, and even her music. We really met some nice people on our flights as well. One guy that was next to us on the 2nd flight is Z's new boyfriend, she got quite intrigued by him, he was PC. (pretty cool, for those of you old school peeps)
We really took it pretty easy today, just sort of lounged around the house at Jack and Sue's (Z's other g-parents) and tomorrow we are taking all the kids to see Santa fly in over near my parents in Darrington. He is supposed to fly in on a helicopter.
I really cannot wait to see Z's face!
She (Z) is having a blast, she got to see her 1/2 sister and brother Kyle and Ashley and of course her Papa and Gramma, her auntie Megan and cousins Leah and Junior.
She is one busy chick!! Running around playing, playing and just being busy.
well, just wanted to update you all on our last couple of days.
I get to see my parents tomorrow, my sister and nephew and neice! cool!!! I am so excited to see all of them!!! OH, and I can't forget to tell you about the huge craft fairs (that means TWO of them!) that we are going to tomorrow! how fun!!!!

peace out!!!!!!!
don't forget to be nice to everyone, the world is a tough place sometimes!!!!!!

clean 'em baby!

yes, you read correctly...........my Z is getting her first teeth cleaning today.
yeah!! I am really curious to see how she does. I am sure it will be pretty noisy, because I already know she is going to freak out.
She and I have been practicing her brushing, making sure that we get each and every tooth. We go through all the motions, and I lay her back and tell her this is how the dentist is going to do it, then we brusha brush brush.
She had her first visit at 1, so now she is 1 1/2 they start the cleanings. Amazing, isn't it? I thought it was sorta early, but I guess it is good to start them off very early to get them used to good oral hygeine. Go figure.
Well, gotta run and start getting us ready to go see DR. Randy in MT P!

peace out my sistas!!!

have a great day everyone!
don't forget to start looking for your turkeys!

busy day!

Hello fellow bloggers!

Hope you are all having a great day so far.......me, I am busy, busy and busy!
I have a house full of people coming in for Thanksgiving.....and from different places, so I am busy cleaning house, watching Z mess it up- and then more cleaning:)
Gotta love that little one! She is just sooooo cute, you can't be mad at her very long! She is currently sitting in her high chair and eating her cheerios, making me a nice mess on the floor of soy milk.
Today's journey :
1.) meeting up with John, getting some papers signed that I forgot to get him to sign last night
2.) going to drop off those papers with caseworker for the adoption
3.) going to costco for what other than: diapers; soy milk & soap
4.) going to wal-mart to fill RX, shop for misc. stuff
5.) going to bank
6.) making Stampin'Up! order
7.) ????think that's it!

well peace out my sistas!! hope you all have a wonderful day!!!
chow- I must get my aching bones out of this chair, off this computer and get that little angel out of her high chair and put her in the bathtub.............


This pic that I am posting is one of Vonnie & Z last December, when Z had to go to the hospital.....my poor baby! Just thinking about what I was doing last year around this time, getting Z settled in, then bammmmmmm.... MRSA. That sucked.


now she is trying to stick a cheerio up her nose........gotta go!

great customer service, great way to do business

I have learned that if you do not have anything nice to say, then do not say anything at all, I believe I learned that by the 5th grade. I have also learned that you learn to play fair, don’t hit, and don’t spit. When you have something to say (especially to defend yourself, or correct that person’s incorrect knowledge) you speak your peace, you let the other person speak, then you speak, they speak and vice versa it goes back and forth to solve the problem. Pretty easy right???? Get how this game works?!?
You see, I know exactly how it works, I have learned from the self-professed master of the game.

This post is coming due to a “spat” with a particularly rude person in a local business yesterday, in which, I did spend a lot of time, some effort and a little money, at this particular business (maybe that was part of the problem…….).

I have learned that people that claim they are someone they are not…….. everyone knows the deal about that, I don’t even need to go there, I am really trying to be nice, here, ya know.
People get annoyed by know-it-all attitudes. Just the facts. People are people.
Where is the humbleness that is so nice in life today? Apparently, some people’s ego is bigger than life itself, and that it is all about them. Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news…..it is not all about you. You MUST understand that people just don’t care how smart you think you are.
I bet no one has ever told you that before. I am just here to help you out with your misguidance.

People that are in customer service, (this means if you work with the public, in case you were confused) should know how to speak to people and listen with their ears.
If everyone has a problem with the same person, don’t you think maybe it’s not everyone else…..and that it could possibly be you? Ever heard that saying? Maybe, just maybe after you run everyone off in this business, you will get the hint.

I have also learned that when you encounter someone that claims she is “self-professed genius” you learn to know how much that person thinks of themselves, and why they must act in the manner they do. You are really not that smart, as I was a customer and one of your best supporters. OOPS!!!! YOU DID IT AGAIN!!!!

The “favorite” customer is the one that spends the most money with the business, yeah, I get that, surprise, surprise, RIGHT???!!

When someone is giving you signals that they just don’t want to be bothered by you, you usually get that hint loud and clear. I got the message loud and clear.
You also learn a lot about a person if they have to talk-louder than you and not let you or your point of view to be heard, just to “control” you or the situation. Great customer service, I appreciate you.

I am an old fart.

yeah!!! I had a great night of sleep last night! I really don't sleep too well at times, and last night I went to bed early, after a long day.
First I had to get up early, (even before Zoie!) and get ready for heading out to the bi-annual yard sale at TPH aka Chas Scrapbooking. Wow! what a great day of fun! Sheila and I were partners in crime writing down the sales on our little pad. She would call out the vendor # and price, then I would write it down, add it up and all that jazz. The women (and some men) were wonderful! It was a great success, as usual. This is the first time us girls, (me, Amber, Vonnie, Sheila) all worked it. We had to go in the night before (Friday night) at 6:00 to start sorting out all the different categories, and then get everything organized. We left (Amber and I) around 10:00 pm after all that was finished. Then like I said, we had the yard sale yesterday, and everyone that had put their stuff in as a vendor, they get dollar for dollar in store credit towards merchandise in the store. I put lots of stuff in the yard sale this time. I really hope I did well with selling my "loot"! I know I wrote up a good bit of my stuff yesterday that people purchased. My goal is to use my yard sale money that I made only to buy stuff I need! I am really being very selective now with my purchases, and that is with every purchase I make in life. I have always been VERY frugal, but now that basically John and I both are unemployed, and with a new baby.....things are more than tight.
But after the yard sale, I had to leave and come home, pack up Zoie and head over to my friends' daughter's baby shower. Heather is expecting a baby girl in January. She really looked beautiful being pregnant. She is young, (19) but, you know how that is, her Mom and Dad are helping them....and they are just excited to be grandparents!
Well as Zoie and I were leaving the baby shower, I was carrying her in my arms, along with all of her "stuff" (back-pack, sippy) etc. I lost my footing and twisted my ankle, with us slamming to the gravel. I managed to cover Zoie, she didn't get a scratch, but I really hurt my knee with all the weight landing there. I swear, every time I wear these Dansko shoes....I end up twisting my ankle and sometimes falling. I feel like an old person today.....bum knee, hurt wrist with tar gravel still embedded in it and a swollen ankle. I tried to clean out the wrist last night, but boy, that peroxide stings like crazy. I am being a baby. I am old. Had to take Tylenol 500 mg last night before going to bed. I am old.