Creepy Cave Guy...

There is a man who wanders downtown. I call him Scary Homeless Guy. I wish I knew his name, so I could call him that instead. He is a little scary though. He mumbles to himself all the time and screams the F-bomb from time to time. I bought him an electric blanket. A woman I know laughed hysterically when she heard me tell the story of my midnight run to Wal-Mart because I was afraid Scary Homeless Guy was going to freeze to death. She laughed because he has no outlets. I tried to explain that there are a number of buildings with outdoor outlets in downtown. The explanation was too late. I am officially that girl who bought an electric blanket for the man with no outlets. I leave food for him in his favorite spot to sleep. Why am I even telling this story? Maybe the point will hit me later...

Spell It...

Does anyone know how to spell check a blog post in the newer setup? There was an icon for it in the old version. Now, I don't see it. Please tell me it's easy to add.

The Bottom of His Shoe?...

Who takes a picture of the bottom of their shoe? Layton does of course!! I am not sure why he felt the need to  take this picture, and I am really not sure why I didn't notice this picture until a few days ago. Apparently, this picture has been hanging out on the memory card for quite some time. :)

Objects May Appear Lazier...

Have you ever felt this way? I know I have.

Have you ever been really, really rude to a client because they called one too many times? I know I have.

Have you ever wanted to sell all your possessions, move to Montana, and live off the fat of the land for the rest of your life? I know I have.

I am not a lazy person. In fact, I don't thrive on calmness. I stay in motion much of the day. Jay asked me last night to sit still and relax. I tried to explain to him that I really don't know how to relax. If I am sitting, then I am not taking care of something that needs to be done. This is where he chimed in and asked, "Does it really NEED to be done? Or, is it something you THINK needs to be done?"

Have you ever cleaned the house before the lovely girl who cleans it for you comes just so you won't be embarassed by the spots on the floor? I know I have.

Do you insist on wiping down all the counter tops after every meal? I know I do.

Do you ever wake up in the night and wonder if you turned the dryer on? I know I do.

Are you completely anal about the way undershirts are folded? I know I am.

Have you ever begun to realize that many of the things you do don't have to be done? I just did. Last night.

Oh My Goodness!...

The bench that Layton loved in front of Flutterbuys is available in another local store in lots of different colors!! I love this lime green one!!

More Downtown Fun With Layton...

Anyone who has read my blog, followed my tweets, or knows me in real life, is well aware of my love for Downtown Athens. I adore walking in Downtown and supporting local businesses.

A new store opened a while back, and I am ashamed to admit that I just made it into the store recently. I took Layton with me of course.

Flutterbuys has all kinds of adorable bags, blankets, and other monogrammed goodies. There were quite a few things that I will probably be purchasing to give as baby gifts soon.

There was an adorable bench out front that Layton kept sitting on! I thought it was so cute!!

Picture This...

I really want a new camera. I want one that takes incredible pictures. I have been shopping around for one for quite some time. I love this one:



















But, I am afraid it might be too much camera for a girl like me. A novice.
This one is also great:

















This one also looks like a camera I would love to have:

















I am having a really hard time trying to pick one out. So, I thought I'd come to the blogosphere and ask all of you what kind of camera you have and what you would recommend for me.

Seriously?...

This was the pumpkin my brother carved last Halloween. Don't you just hate artsy people?!!?? He does this stuff without a pattern too. I can't even draw stick people....

Hadley Smiles Outside...

Normally, Hadley is not one to pose for a picture. I caught her though. She was having a blast outside. Notice the American Girl backpack. She loves all the American Girl merchandise. When the catalog comes, she immediately flips through it and circles everything she wants. Birthday and Christmas are easy after that!!

Another Reason To Love Chick Fil A...

Last week I mentioned the Chick Fil A 5K for the benefit of the Jessica Elkins Meningitis Foundation. Jessica was a beautiful 15 year old cheerleader who died from Meningitis.

I have to hand it to Matthew Kyle. He owns and operates our local Chick Fil A, and he is a class act!! Keep in mind that our Chick Fil A has only been here a couple of years.

There were close to 500 runners in the event!!!!


Mayor Dan was there along with Mignon Bowers, councilwoman. Here they are posing with Trisha Black the executive director of Spirit of Athens.



Spirit of Athens gave out pedometers to anyone who stopped by our booth. Westside Jiffy Pharmacy was kind enough to donate the pedometers to SOA's cause.

The cards with the pedometers have walking routes on the back. Of course all the routes go through downtown Athens! Three laps around our courthouse square is a mile!! Spirit of Athens is trying to promote more walking in downtown. Three of the restaurants in downtown served a heart healthy lunch today! Yum!!

I just loved this picture of Trisha and Diane!! Diane Lehr is the chair of the organization committee and is doing a fabulous job with it!! Notice the adorable iWalk t-shirts we were selling too.

I put together a team to represent Spirit of Athens in the race. If I get their consent, I am going to post the group photo of them. They looked so adorable in their red shirts!!

I Thought Richard Nixon Left the Building...

BUT, the Richard Nixon pose is still alive and well in Layton's arsenal of cuteness.

I Made My Bed...Now I Have to...

You've heard that expression, right? You made your bed, now you have to lie in it.

I've been thinking a great deal about this particular cliche lately. Care to take a gander why?

Just Cuz He's Cute...

This little fellow really melts my heart, and I can't wait to take him to the beach again this summer.

Gosh, He's Nice...

If you follow me on Twitter, you may remember me mentioning something about my husband mowing our neighbor's yard.

I paused to take a picture of him, and Ella ran across our yard to jump in it with him. I surprised him with the camera. He thought I was just going to talk to him.

Anyhow, the point of this story is that our neighbors are super nice people. They are from China and ask us to call them Michael and Michelle. If you look them up in the phone book, that's not what their names are. :)

They own our favorite Chinese restaurant in town. Michael's dad is very sick and will not live much longer. So, Michael (the only son) went to China to be with his father. In his absence, my sweet fellow has been mowing their yard so that Michelle doesn't have to do it. Isn't that nice of him?

My Little Easter Bunnies...

We had Easter lunch at my mom's house. All five of the grandchildren were there in style. They look so happy!!! Except for Charsy. Who refused to smile.

Ella had already pulled out her hair decorations by the time this photo was made too.

Breaking the Law...

Several years ago Jay and I went to Italy. It was an excellent opportunity for us. We had so much fun.

While we were in Florence, we went to see David. There were security guards. There were signs requesting that no pictures be made.

We took photos anyway. We were very discreet about it and hoped that we wouldn't get kicked out. Sleuth photography!

No image of this statue does it justice. Whether or not you like art, you would love this. In my opinion it is the only statue that one ever need see in person. The smoothness of it is sheer perfection. It is honestly one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

Relay for Life...Ain't Too Proud to Beg...

On May 7 and 8, I will be participating in my local Relay for Life. This is event will help raise money, awareness, and political support in the fight against cancer.

Cancer is something that affects every person on this planet. Everyone of us knows someone who has had or is currently battling cancer.

My father died from cancer, so I am eager to participate in the Relay for Life. In years past, I have served as a banker. I was behind the scenes tallying the money. This year, I am actually going to be walking the relay.

I joined the team of someone I don't really know. Not in real life anyway. I met Bamaboy on Twitter. No, seriously. We had some mutual friends, so I decided to follow him. Right before Christmas, his mother found out she had pancreatic cancer. In the days and weeks following that diagnosis, I noticed he tweeted about starting a Relay for Life team. I committed to being on that team.

Please consider making a tax deductible donation to our team. This is my personal Relay for Life site. Every donation no matter how big or small makes a difference.

Running for a Cause...Jessica Elkins...

This coming Saturday is the Chick Fil A 5K that benefits the Jessica Elkins Meningitis Awareness Foundation. The registration fee that morning is $30.00. If you live in the area, please consider running or walking in the event. We can do it together!! I'll be there bright and early to help set up. This is Jessica:

The Inaugural Chick-fil-A Charity 5K Run/Walk carries a more philanthropic motive than just a race.
The Athens event will benefit the Jessica Elkins Meningitis Awareness Foundation, with 100 percent of the registration money going to the foundation.

The Athens-Limestone Hospital Wellness Center is sponsoring the event.
Jessica Michelle Elkins was a healthy, ninth-grade cheerleader in Athens, her father wrote on his YouTube posting. On a Friday, Jessica started feeling sick at school. A doctor diagnosed her with flu.

The next morning, Jessica's condition had worsened, and her parents took her to Decatur General Hospital, where she was diagnosed with meningitis. Jessica was transported to Children's Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham. Jessica died of spinal meningitis in December 2007.

The Elkins family has kept her memory alive by spreading awareness of the aggressive disease.
The Chick-fil-A run will start at 8 a.m. April 10. The starting line will be on Washington Street at the Athens-Limestone Hospital Wellness Center. The run meanders through historic downtown Athens.

"The run is a great opportunity to call your family and friends to come to Athens and participate in such a worthy cause," tourism director Jeanette Dunnavant said.
Many awards will be presented, including free Chick-fil-A meals for a year to the top male and female winners.
Businesses supporting the event include Coca-Cola, Purity and Fleet Feet Sports.
Race application forms are available from Matthew S. Kyle at Chick-fil-A of Athens, 1291 U.S. 72 E. or at active.com.
For more information, call 233-8900 or visitchick-fil-a.com/athens-al.

The following is something that Jessica's father wrote:

Jessica was fine on Friday morning, and went to school ( 9Th grade ) and took a final exam. After the test she and my oldest daughters boyfriend went out to lunch. She did not even get to eat and she started filling sick. She came home and called us. Her Mom came home early, and took her to the doctor, where they said she had the FLU, and they sent her back home. Friday night she was still sick at her stomach, and felling real bad, but no temp. We called the doctor back, and said to cut off her liquids, because that was what was making her sick, and to let the flu run it's coarse. I got up with her several times in the night, checking on her. I left for work early Saturday morning. I was looking for a present she had ordered for her boyfriend, Fed-x was going to deliver it to the office. My wife called me at 9:30 AM and said that when she went to check on Jessica, she pulled back the sheets, and saw little drop spots all over her. I rushed home, and as soon as I got home we put her in the van, and headed to Decatur General Hospital. We called ahead to let the doctor know we were coming and to have the hospital have a room waiting on her. When we got to the hospital , they took us right on back to a room, and they hooked up an IV to give her fluids. When the doctor got there he examined her, and very quickly called me out, and said he thought she had meningitis, and that he had already contacted Children's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. They sent a helicopter to Decatur, and picked her up. When we got to Children's, we were met by the doctor there, and he said they were treating her for the worst meningitis, because she was so sick, they did not want to put her through the spinal tap, and if this was not worse case, it would not hurt her. The doctor there was very honest and told us, that this does kill children, but because we got her there so quickly, that would help. Each day we would hold on to any signs of improvement, and with each improvement, would be a set back. On Dec 26, 2007 we were in with her, and the nurse checked her eyes, and he ran and got the doctor. Soon after that, test were ran to only come back that she was brain dead , due to the swelling in her brain. They let all of her friends say good bye, and the family had there time, and her mother and I stayed with her, when they took her off the breathing machine. No parent should have to go through that. She was a healthy, young 9Th grade cheerleader, and she is my baby girl. She was going to get the meningitis shot in March, that's when her yearly check up was due. I'm not sure if the shot would have avoided this or not, but please check with your doctor, and see if the shot is for you child. I do not want anymore parents to have to go through what we have gone through. Christmas will never be the same for our family, or her friends. You can look Jessica story up on the computer, just google Jessica Elkins, she was loved by ALL !! I love you baby !!! Dad

Or Don't Smile....

Smile...

Star Bear...

Ella's class at school has a Star Bear. He gets to visit each family for two days. Your responsibility is to record what you do with Star Bear. Each child writes about the experience in Star Bear's journal and can add photographs if they desire. Ella's first request was to take Star Bear to the Village Pizza in downtown.

We did several other things while Star Bear came to visit including a trip to the roller rink and a birthday party. Ella thoroughly enjoyed having him come visit with us. Her journal entry was very sweet, and she added three photographs.

An Outing to Subway...

Everyday is an adventure for my family. Even a trip to Subway can be an ordeal. Last weekend, we had Charsy with us. Just picture it. I was in line ordering sandwiches for four children and myself. I was calling out condiments like a crazed woman and trying to figure out what chips each child wanted. I was that mom. You know the one. The mom who is simultaneously ordering food, trying to get all the children to stay in place, feverishly avoiding an accidental chip theft, ignoring the ringing cell phone, paying with one hand, and balancing trays of food with the other.

I have no doubt that the other patrons of our local Subway were glad to see us leave after we ate, but the children had so much fun. They sat at the small booths while Jay and I sat at a table next to them. I asked them to let me take a quick photo before we left. You can tell that Ella and Charsy were not in the mood, but Hadley and Layton were eager to strike a pose.

Ella and Layton...

There was a nice lady painting faces at last week's Easter Eggstravaganza. Of course my little munchkins had to get in line for this!

Happy Independence Day!...

In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States.



I hope you enjoy your day of fireworks and barbecues!!

My Cowboy...

I got several emails about this picture of Layton. Some of you thought it was the best picture in the collage of our Nashville trip. I thought I'd go ahead and post a larger size of it.

Quiet As A Mouse...

Ella is definitely my loud and expressive child.

This one though...

Hadley is the quietest child I know. She will sit and read for hours! I have ironed loads of clothes and never realized she was in the room with me because she is so quiet. She loves books that are series. She read all the Harry Potter books and some series I had never heard of about Julie and the wolves. Now, she is really into Greek Mythology. We are thinking about taking her to see the new Clash of the Titans movie. When I was a child, I loved that movie. In the previews for the new one, it looks scary!! I told Jay it looks more intense because it is lacking claymation! Ha!! She is almost 11. Do you think it's okay to take her to a PG-13 movie?

What Else Does Ella Photograph?

Ella photographs my blog. She looks for pictures of herself, and takes a picture of it.

What A Face!!....

A few days ago, I mentioned that Ella likes to hang her body out of the moon roof. The day I got a picture of her smiling, I also got a picture of her making one of her quintessential "Ella faces." She has one of the most animated faces of anyone I know. When she talks, her whole face moves conveying every emotion and thought. Her eyebrows moves, and her nose wiggles. Ella talks with her whole body.

Waiting on Hadley...

While waiting on Hadley to get out of school one day, Ella insisted on a group photograph.

Obsessed with your camera, little girl?

1985 Called...

1985 called Hadley a few weeks ago. She got obsessed with crimped hair as a result. I am not very good when it comes to hair and makeup. I buy Mary Kay, and I use it the exact way Dana told me to. When it comes to hair, I am even more limited because I don't have anyone giving me instructions. So, when Hadley declared crimped hair this season's must have do.....

I put her hair in about a zillion little dreadlocks! It turns out really well for her. She has the straightest hair I have every seen. There isn't a bend in it, so braiding it with some gel while it is wet gets her that crimpy look she loves!

Does anyone else struggle with hair and makeup? Or is it just me?

Thank Goodness for Warm Weather...

I am so thrilled that we have had some warmer days here lately!!! Ella has enjoyed it too!!! She loves to stand on the console and hang her whole body out of the moon roof while we sit in the pickup line to get Hadley.