Life with my sister

Being a stay-at-home mom I don't always care about a weekend. To me, it is just another two days in the week. I'm still cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner(except on Friday night), doing laundry and disciplining children. Same thing, 7 days a week! But today seems a bit different. I don't really know why. It just does. Today we started out with french toast. Daniel suggested it, Samuel helped make it, it was a good time. And then I have a hair appointment at 12:30. Is it a bad thing when the lady that cuts your hair calls and asks when you would like an appointment? It is isn't it? I'm not real good at seeing the signs of bad hair until its too late. Like Sunday mornings. I always notice that my hair is out of shape, too long, and gray on Sunday morning. So I have asked Suzi if she would please let me know when I (or anyone else in the family) need a haircut. And she did. And I love her for it! Love. Her. After the haircut and style I will then proceed to sweat by ...

I just wanted to tell my big sister that I love her the BIGGEST much! Abby

This is a photo we took at Arlington National Cemetery in late February. It was one of the most compelling things I have ever seen. Our trip to that cemetery has made me much more patriotic, I must say. This day makes me proud of Randall's Granddad. He was in the Korean War (this is Randall at the Korean Memorial). He told Randall he had to do 75 missions before he could go home. Once he got home he met Randall's grandmother. I am thankful he made it home so I could have this blessed life with my Randall. This is "the wall". The saddest memorial in D.C. stands right here to the left as you leave the Lincoln Memorial. It is also the quietest and most somber memorial on the Mile. It made my heart hurt to watch loved ones sketch their persons name on a sheet of paper and to see the letters in ziplock bags with photos of the soldiers lining the wall. As sad as this wall is and as horrible as that war was, I know a lot of good that came from it. That horrible war is w...

Thank you for all your helpful supper tips. Jill, I am making 2 crock pot recipes this coming week Katie, I have received Kraft Food & Family for about 4 years now. I love it. I actually got one in the mail yesterday. It made me smile. Julie, I will not be making that recipe you posted and I think you know why. Looks good though....I mean if you can handle the smell of mayo, that is. I decided to go to the grocery store last night after I came home and relaxed for a bit. Randall was in the field until dark, so I decided to make the most of my time. I also thought he might enjoy some food when he got home. (I still ordered pizza while leaving Kroger and even had it delivered ...I still have much room for improvement) I wore my new and most cute maternity denim shorts ( which are still way too big. I yanked them up the whole shopping trip, but my regular shorts are too small...oh me) , a Red Wolves t-shirt ( that is for you Michael....deal with it!) and my NHS Grizzlies flip-flops ...

I was going to post this last night, but had to leave for ballgames before I got a chance. (And sadly we lost both games.) I didn't know what we were going to have for supper last night. We had to be at the ball field at 5:15 so I was thinking about just running by the burger shack and picking up some $1 burgers. But, while grabbing a coke from the frig I saw a recipe on the back of a condiment jar and decided to try it. I did and it was a winner with the family. We have been going through a difficult season in our house for a few months. It seems that we can't all agree on a good meal. Either the adults like the meal and the kids hate it, or the adults tolerate the meal while the kids love it. It makes me not want to cook! Well, that isn't the only reason I don't want to cook! Although Abby and I are sisters and share blood and some DNA we are pretty opposite on just about everything. Including our love to cook. Well her love and my disdain. I thought it was funny that...

I have decided I do not like planning supper anymore. I used to love it, live for it, take pride in it. Now I almost could go without it in order to not have to think about it, prepare it and especially plan it. I think it is that I am in a job that has me plan, prepare and think all day. I love that job though, so what is a girl to do? Give me pointers. I even hate grocery shopping. It puts me in a bad mood. I remember when we first got married Kroger was my happy place. I loved grocery shopping. It was a thrill. I need out of this funk. Give me pointers, new recipes, suggestions to make it easier. I am going to have a little mouth to feed in the next little bit and I want to have the desire to fix good meals for that sweet little thing! Poor Randall. He used to get special bread, casseroles and homemade desserts every night. It is a wonder he finds his way home to my table anymore. Bless his heart. Abby

I heart Robeez shoes. I found a fabulous deal on some at a resale shop in Twinkle Town last month. It was my first and only purchase at this point for Baby L. I got 2 for a girl and 1 for a boy. I will resale what I don't need and make more money off of them! This picture is not of any of the ones I purchased. Mine are way cuter....I cheated and used Google images for this post. I purchased one of these belly bands last weekend. I must say I do not heart it at all. It is to be used in the in between stage....when your pants won't button! I wore it with jeans last weekend and it made me feel uneasy knowing it was all unbuttoned and partially unzipped. I feared it would creep down and my jeans would fall off. I tried it yesterday with some dress pants and I fought it rolling down on me all day. I am throwing in the towel on this joker. I will resort to dresses until I can fill out maternity pants. (Oh, I wore my maternity denim skirt to dinner last night and it is WAY cute. Tha...

Have you ever done anything you knew you weren't supposed to do? Have you ever taken control of something that wasn't yours to control? Have you ever said yes when God was clearly telling you to say no? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you know exactly what I am in the middle of. A few months ago I knew that this situation was going to come up. I knew that God didn't want me to say yes to it if offered. I knew it. Without a doubt. So, what did I do? You guessed it! I said yes without even being formally asked to do it. I was afraid that no one would say yes. And that would leave us in a bind. I was excited because I really thought I could do it. And you know what? I can't do it. And its too late to change my mind. Its too late to tell everyone that I made a mistake and they need to find someone else. Last night I couldn't even sleep because I was stressed knowing that I can't do what this job requires. Well, I can do it. But not as well as som...

Saturday, May 9, 2009 Today I got my first maternity clothes. (I am of course not ready to wear them just yet) I went to Fort Smith for the weekend to celebrate Mother’s Day with Mama. We took Aunt Janet with us to Rogers and met Sarah, Gracie and Molly for the day. We went to Motherhood and I tried on maternity clothes for the first time. It was odd. I put on the strap-on belly and tried on some dresses with it. It was so funny. Gracie and Molly stayed in the dressing room with me and helped me with my clothes. It was great fun to be with those sweet bow-headed baby girls. Mama bought me a denim skirt and Aunt Janet bought me a dress. I got myself some jeans and a shirt. Sarah was nice enough to give me a sack full of maternity things she had at her house. We then went to PF Changs and ate lunch. We talked about babies, bottles, breastfeeding and formula, and all the fun stuff that comes with babies. We loved on Gracie and Molly a lot too. I loved sharing my first maternity clothes m...

Friday - April 10, 2009 Aunt JuJu writes a letter to Baby L To my darling niece/nephew, Uncle Stephen brought me a card today. It said that I was going to be an Aunt.I cried. I'm so happy for your mom and dad. They love each other so much. (Did you know that your grandmother and I set them up on their first date?) (I guess that means you really should belong to me and live with me. We'll talk about that later!) I can't wait for you to meet your mom and dad. They are really cool. Your mom has a sense of style that I long for. (You are going to have the coolest clothes and room!) She has a loving, giving, kind heart. She has wanted you for so long and is beside herself with anticipation. Your dad is a hard worker. He gives everything he does 110%. I know that being a dad will be no different. He is a kind, gentle, loving man. He is anxious for you to arrive. These next few months better go fast!They not only love each other, but they love the Lord. And I can't wait to hea...

Sunday - April 12, 2009 Today is Easter and we told Ben & Molly. We had plans to have Ben & Molly over for Easter lunch. I love entertaining and she loves to be pampered. It is a great match. I did all the cooking, except the fruit salad. We had honey baked ham, hashbrown casserole, homemade mac & cheese, deviled eggs, Mexican corn, yeast rolls, coconut cake, chocolate pie and fruit salad. It was most yummy and I was most tired when it was all said and done. I had prepared Easter baskets for both of them. Molly's had a book that said "Grandma Loves me" along with her favorite candy and other goodies. Ben's had a John Deere bib in it with his favorite candy and other goodies. They both took their baskets at the same time. Ben went straight for the bib while Molly was focused on her candy. I was watching him hold that bib up to his chest and mumble, "I don’t think this is going to fit. What is this? Ok, I think it is too small…" She began to look ...

Happy Mother's Day Mom! You have been an outstanding example of a Godly mother. You have given us inspiration and insight into what it takes to be a loving, caring mother. Thank you for all the love and kindness you have shown to us and continue to show to us. We love you! Happy Mother's Day to all the other moms in our lives. We are the women we are because of you! (And that is supposed to be a compliment!) Love, Julie and Abby

I am going to be an aunt! I can't tell you how excited I am about this. I have waited 5 long years for my sister to have a baby. I have endured many Christmases of her saying "next Christmas I could have a baby." She said it one Christmas, and lo and behold if I didn't end up having a baby the next Christmas! So this Christmas we will have a baby to hold. Not that this Christmas will be normal. Apparently the parents of the unborn child didn't take into consideration the fact that if conceived in March, the baby will be born in December. That just doesn't bode well for a typical family Christmas. But I will overlook it when I take that baby home with me hold that cute little baby in my arms. Now, I'm not one to say that all babys are cute. I don't believe that is true. I have proof, if you want it! But I really think this baby will be the cutest baby ever. Have you seen a baby picture of Abby? Well, she was the cutest baby ever, and I'm hoping th...

Saturday - April 11, 2009 Today I told Daddy and Connie, Aunt Babs and Hollye. Daddy & Connie had planned to come for the day to shop and pick up the vacuum I had scored for them at a yard sale. Little did they know they would be getting news about Baby L upon their arrival. Ashley (Connie's daughter) was with them. She had asked them in the car on the way over when I was going to have a baby. Connie said she thought it would be soon, but she never dreamed she would get the news today! I made an Easter basket full of baby items. A bib, 2 pacifiers, Johnson & Johnson mini baby items, a stuffed lamb and mini Baby Ruth's that I had wrapped "L" around so it read "Baby L". Well, it took them forever to realize what was going on. They stared at that basket for the longest time and I finally had to coach them along until they got it. They screamed, cried, hugged me and smiled from ear to ear. We had a fun day shopping and talking about babies. I called Aun...

Friday - April 10, 2009 Today I decided I had to tell Mama and Julie. I wanted to wait until I went to the doctor and tell them on Mother's Day. I then decided there was no way possible I could keep something like this quiet for a month! I spent all morning thinking of a creative way to tell them I was having a baby. After much thought, I ordered a cookie cake from Harp's for Mama. I called Harp's bakery and told the lady my situation. She was so sweet and excited for me. I told her to make the cookie cake babyish and to put "It is time to make that stocking, Marmie" on it. I asked her to have it ready at lunch time. I then called Mama and told her I had ordered a cake for her for Easter. I think she thought that was sort of odd, but she was thankful. I told her it had to be picked up by 1:00. I waited, paced, and tapped my toes until she called at 12:52. I walked out of a meeting to take the call. I answered and she said "Oh, Abby!!!" with tears in her ...

In the coming days I will update you on my pregnancy by sharing my journal entries from the past month. Wednesday - April 8, 2009 Tonight I found out that I am pregnant! We started praying about starting a family last month and God blessed us real quick. I bought a pregnancy test today at Walmart, while running errands. I had a weird feeling something was going on with me and needed to find out if it was a baby. I came home from work with a terrible head cold and was super tired. I was excited about my 4 pound weight loss that week and was determined to keep on losing for bathing suit weather. So much for carrying out that plan! I took the test after dinner. I was certain I was overreacting but took it anyway. It proved positive before I had time to pull it out from under me. No 3 minute wait time needed! I don’t think I even washed my hands before I bolted down the hallway, through the kitchen and through the den to Randall's garage. I held up the test, looked him straight in the...

Yep, I sure am. 8 weeks and 3 days. We heard and saw Baby L's heartbeat today. It was an amazing sound and sight. We will be blessed with this bundle of joy in mid-December. Thank you for praying for us as we journey through this. We are excited. Julie is excited because she will finally be an aunt! Throughout the coming days I plan to post about the last 4 weeks and how we found out, how we told our parents, etc. I will also post pics of the ultrasound and hopefully the video. Stay tuned....it should be a fun-filled 7 months with the mama-t0-be and the aunt-to-be! Abby

I have been tagged by Lindsey & Katie . I guess I shall give in: 8 things I am looking forward to: 1. Dinner with my J'Town besties tonight 2. Tuesday morning 3. My husband restoring this old Chevy truck he bought so he can sell one of these fixer uppers he now owns.(Can you sense my annoyance? It could be worse I reckon. He could be addicted to crack...instead it is old 4 wheel drives. Mercy) 4. Being with my Mama, Aunt J, Sarah, Grace and little Molly next Saturday 5. Getting all my Southern Living at Home stuff in so I can finish my Living Room 6. Finishing this silly thing...this is harder than it looks! 7. Eating catfish 8. Boating with my Randall this summer 8 things I did yesterday: 1. Worked hard for the money 2. Lead my first Communications Committee meeting at the United Way 3. Ate dinner at TaMolly's with my Randall 4. Got frustrated with the people in my daily life that have no work ethic. 5. Wore a red dress and red sandals 6. Talked to my Mama several times o...

I know. You're surprised and you should be. I'm not known for my cooking skills. And for good reason. I'm not a good cook. Its plain and simple. Everyone will agree. But I have tasted these muffins. I have made these muffins. And they are good. Good I tell you. Please try them, you'll be glad you did. Sausage Cheese Muffins 1 lb browned sausage 3 C bisquick 1 1/2 C cheese 1 can chedder cheese soup 3/4 C water Mix the sausage, bisquick, and cheese. Mix the soup and water together. Then mix them together. Put in a muffin pan, cook on 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Then eat! Enjoy! Let me know what you think! Julie