Are You Smarter Than...

No, not a 5th grader.

Well, ok, maybe that could apply to this post.

Because all 5th graders know that in order for lights to work, they have to be plugged in!

The other day, as I was putting up lights around our tree in the front yard, I became so upset when I plugged them in and they didn't work! They were brand new! I tried plugging them in every different way imaginable..and still, nothing!!

I started talking out loud, trying to work myself through the situation. I took a step back, and just stared at the lights on the tree, trying to see where I'd gone wrong. I worked a little more. Unplugged here, plugged in there.

Quickly, my voice rose a few octaves. I started flinging things around and became needlessly annoyed. (I hope my neighbors weren't outside!) I called the lights stupid. I called the lights idiots. But I knew I was really angry when I called them stupid idiots!

So, I decided to go grab my hubby--before I lost all remaining sanity--and see if he could figure out why the stupid idiot lights weren't working!! Because I was about to rip all of them down and throw them away!

Bob came out. Looked at the lights on the tree. Unplugged one connecting set of lights...plugged them back in and said, "Is the extension cord plugged in in the garage?" "Well, yeah!" I said, shocked that he would think me so stupid!

...but just to make sure, I went into the garage to double check.

I plugged the extension cord into the outlet.

And all the lights came on.

It was certainly not my brightest moment
(No pun intended)

Thanksgiving

I hope all you ladies & your sweet families have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration today!

Give Thanks. Live Thanks.

Picture Play

Last week Bob was out of town on business so I stayed at my parents for half the week and Bob's parents for the other half. It was like a mini-vacation! I have a lot of catching up to do in the blog world..I feel out of the loop! I hope you all are ready for Thanksgiving! I'm sooo excited!

Anyway, a blog friend of mine recently told me about a picture editing website that has a lot of free tools to help "spice up" your pictures. I had so much fun playing around! You can too, at www.picnik.com!

You can click on the pics to enlarge them.

My Little Stud

Recently, a missionary friend of ours, who also does photography on the side, offered to snap some pictures of my little stud muffin. Ethan did such a great job posing!

I played the part of the paranoid mom very well though, when our friend asked me to put Ethan at the base of a tree with lots of leaves around it. I kinda froze, and then spotted a huge black bug and a spider. No way! I also had to put a bunched up blanket behind him in one of the pics (luckily you can't see it) b/c he was sitting on a bike trail and I was so worried he would fall back a crack his head open! haha.

Thankfully, all went well--no spider bites and no cracked open head. Just some really cute pics of my baby boy!

Thanks

Veteran's Day has already passed, but I wanted to post a few pics of my cousin, who is a Captain in the US Army. He's currently overseas on his 2nd tour of duty protecting our freedom, along with thousands of other brave men and women. I'm so thankful for our soldiers. I didn't fully understand the risks involved until my cousin was sent overseas. I think about him often..praying. It's hard to watch the news and not worry.

How brave our soldiers are.
I'm so grateful for them.
So very, very grateful.

My cousin is a graduate of West Point.
Here, he's getting ready to shake President Bush's hand after receiving his diploma.


Army buddies

God bless America

My cousin has been asked if it's dusty over where he's stationed.
I think this answers the question..haha

I'm just so darn proud of him!

We love you! Thanks for your service. You're in our prayers everyday.

"The willingness of America's veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude."
- Jeff Miller

Happy Birthday!

Today, my wonderful daddy turns 56!!

I can't adequately express how precious my daddy means to me.

He's one of the strongest men I know--physically and spiritually!

He was always around when we kiddos were growing up--which we LOVED.

He taught us everything we know about sports--he was my basketball coach from 2nd grade thru 12th grade!

He showed us kids what true love is--he and my mom have been married for 32 years.

He's sacrificial, caring, funny, and oh so smart!

God gave me a an amazing earthly Father who follows our Heavenly Father--I couldn't be more blessed.

I love you daddy! I hope you have a great day!!

Now I couldn't end a blog without some pictures--so here's some of my daddy through the years!

What a handsome little boy!

My dad, the athlete!

College days

*~Newlywed~*

Daddy of three
Easter 1986

Daddy to the rescue!
Carrying me after I sprained my ankle in a basketball game

I love that my dad can still be goofy and have a good time!

He looooves being a grandpa!

So sweet

~ Four generations ~
"The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him."
Proverbs 20:7

I've always loved my daddy's hands.
They're the hands of a strong, hardworking man.

This almost seems more like a Father's Day post..haha.
Oh well...I've got a great dad to brag about!

Happy Birthday, Dad (and Grandpa)!!
We love you

Our Halloween

I haven't dressed up for Halloween in yyeeaarss. Probably because I wasn't raised celebrating Halloween. I think I remember trick or treating once...maybe. I wasn't missing out, though. I always had a blast at the fall festivals our church held each year.

I'm still not a huge Halloween fan. Here's a good explanation why one fellow blogger doesn't celebrate Halloween like many do--she's not pushy and pious about it, but sweet and sincere.

~~~*~*~*~~~

A couple of years ago, my dad purchased a bunch of little 10 cent Bibles. We decided that we might as well put the holiday to good use, so along with yummy candy, we gave each trick or treater one of those little Bibles.

We're still enjoying that same tradition. Before the night begins, we get together and pray for all the children that are going to come to our door--we pray that the little Bibles will somehow make an impact in their lives.

And this year, since we've got a sweet little boy of our own, I figured it would be fun to get back in on the costume action! Ethan was Charlie Brown, I was a '50s Housewife, and Bob was a rocker dude (with fake tattoo sleeves--he just thinks they're so cool! haha)

We started the evening at my in-laws...

Dinner and some candy!
It was a fairly quick stop, but we had fun while we were there!

Papaw with his little buddy, Charlie Brown!

Daddy showing off Ethan's outfit...

Our dressed up little family...

Mom and Dad having some fun!

Silly faces =)

Ethan's 1st Halloween card...

He really liked it!

Later we went back to our house so we could hand out those cute little Bibles! My parents, grandma, sister and brother-in-law came over. We had a great time!

My BFF and her son, Nathan (Charlie Brown, too!) stopped by for a quick visit...


...and then Great-Grandma finally sang Ethan to sleep.
It's hard work being so cute!


My grandma is such a godly woman and an incredible blessing to our family!


Me and my rocker dude!
(He's rarely serious in a picture..especially after eating so much sugar!)


I've made myself sick the past couple of days eating so much candy!

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like they're obligated to eat it all??

The Simple Woman's Day Book

"The Simple Woman's Daybook" originally started at http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/ . Check it out!

FOR TODAY...
November 2, 2009

Outside my window...it's absolutely beautiful!! Clear, blue skies; the sun is shining, and it's 73°!

I am thinking..."Wow. I'm really hungry."

I am thankful for...beautiful days like today =)

From the kitchen...nothing planned. I need to go grocery shopping!

I am wearing...black jogging pants, NBA tshirt

I am going...to eat at McAlister's Deli today. I have a free tea card burning a hole in my pocket!

I am reading...Sweet Deception, by Drs. Mercola and Pearsall

I am hoping...that I can get everything done today that needs to be done!

I am hearing...Ethan playing with toys.

Around the house...more thanksgiving decor to put up!

One of my favorite things...is hearing Ethan laugh! It's one of the best sounds ever!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Visit my Grandma, FPU, go to the park for a playdate!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

I love Norman Rockwell art...and I LOVE Thanksgiving.
I'm so glad it's November! =)