Hodge Podge

That's pretty much what this post will be...hodge podge! It'll basically just be an overview of the weekend and I don't have any new pictures to post from the happenings.

Gene had dropped his motorcycle off at the shop last Thursday to have his rear tire replaced and a 10,000 mile service done. He told them before he dropped it off that the only way he would bring it to them was if they could have it done and ready by 9 am Saturday because he was planning on riding to Tulsa. They assured him it would be done. Well, that didn't happen. We showed up right at 9 Saturday morning and there was nobody there. Finally one of the owners showed up a few minutes after us and opened the business. However, Gene's bike had not even been touched yet. They told him it would be done between 2 and 3 that afternoon. So, he didn't get to ride to Tulsa. He was not a happy camper.

After we got back home I sent Mom a text asking if she wanted to meet at the mall and help me spend the rest of my gift certificate to Arty Crafty because I wanted to find some stuff for our bedroom since I'd re-arranged. She, of course, said yes so we planned to meet at noon! The kids ended up going with me and Gene just dropped us off at the mall then went to hang out with Steve until time to get his bike. I was able to find a couple of things for my bedroom, that I'll share at a later date because it's still not done, and it was too big to fit in my car so we loaded it up in Mom's and then the kids and me piled in! I called Gene when we finished at the mall and he was fixing to head down to the shop. So, Mom just took me down there to get my car. Gene ended up having to sit and wait there for almost 3 hours because his bike still was not done. I had run back into the mall and then down to the grocery store and right as I got home he called and asked me to come get him because it wasn't going to be done until the next morning. Oh, he was sooooo mad! They ended up putting a front tire on the rear and were going to have to fix it. The owner wasn't there most of the day Saturday and kept apologizing because he wasn't there watching what they were doing.

He promised Gene that he would be up and at the shop by 8 Sunday morning and Gene told him we'd be there sometime between 9 and 10 to get it. We got up, drove in, got there right at 9 and nobody was there. Shop was all locked up. So...we went back home. Gene tried calling him....straight to voicemail. We were supposed to go riding with Steve and Jennie too. Gene ended up going back up there by himself at 10 just to make sure and so he could say he was there at both times, but still no one was there. Right after he got home Steve called him and they were talking. While he was on the phone the owner tried calling him so he clicked over and he told him that he was now up at the shop and he could come get his bike. It was 10:30 by now.

I went and changed clothes and got ready really quick and Gene got Grace dressed and her stuff together because I was going to drop her off at Mom and Dad's to stay the night with them. The boys had gone to their mom's right after they woke up so we all loaded up and went back, yet again, to the shop. It was...finally done. Gene left for Steve and Jennie's and I headed for Mom and Dad's. I got Grace dropped off and then met everyone else at Steve and Jennie's house. When I got there Jennie met me at the door and told me that after Gene got to their house Steve was doing an inspection of it because he used to work on motorcycles and knows just about all there is to know about them and saw that his saddlebags were all scratched up. Jennie was able to buff and polish some of them out but they still didn't look great. It was seriously one thing after another and Gene called and left another message with the owner, who quickly returned his call. He was very apologetic and told Gene to bring it back up and he would take care of it. It was an absolute mess and I'm so glad that Steve decided to take the day off for us to go ride because it was exactly what Gene needed.

We finally got on the bikes and our first stop was Rogers and we ate lunch at Texas Land & Cattle at the Promenade. It was yummy!!! None of us had eaten there before but we were all impressed! After lunch we headed out Hwy 94 West and went to the Beaver Dam lookout. It was so pretty and there were tons of people out swimming and boating. I was jealous of that...I would loved to have been in the water! We hung out there for just a little bit then we drove on over to Eureka Springs and sat downtown for a while, ate snow cones, and just people watched. It's usually really packed on the weekends but it wasn't as busy as I expected it to be. We loaded back up and headed back to Fayetteville. There was a benefit BBQ dinner for the blind that night that we were invited to so we got there about 6 and hung out for about an hour but Gene and I were worn out so we came home, took showers, and settled in to watch Gran Torino. It was such a good movie! I had not seen it before but I'm definitely glad I got it for Gene for Father's Day because it's one I could totally watch again!

Overall, it was a really great 4 day weekend for me! Although we had the little situation with the motorcycle the good still outweighed the bad and I was able to just relax and spend some great time with both friends and family!! I did go back to work last night and I was soooo not ready for that! It was really slow though, especially for a Monday, so it wasn't too bad and now it's already almost my weekend again!! Gotta love that! I'm hoping to take the kids swimming again on Thursday because the boys are going to be with their mom Thursday and Friday night but then back hom for the 4th. I, of course, will have to work the 4th but about the time I get home is when they usually start the fireworks at my house. We live up on the top of a mountain and it's a dead end so we always get together with some of our neighbors and shoot off a ton of fireworks up here!

I guess that's about it for now, I need to get off of here and get the boys upstairs so we can workout before I go to work! Have a great week!

Soaking Up Some Sun!!

The past few summers I have only gone swimming about 3 times. Sad I know, but I don't know anybody with a pool and there was no way I was taking my kids to the Springdale Aquatic Center because it's always so so crowded and I knew it wouldn't be much fun. So, early this week I remembered that Prairie Grove has an aquatic park also that was supposed to be much better than Springdale's. Gene told me he and the boys used to go all the time a few years ago so I decided that yesterday I would take the kids. However, I needed a swimsuit, so we made an Old Navy run Thursday and I was able to find one that I like. The best part is it was on sale so I got a $40 swimsuit for $10!! Can't beat that! I also found Grace a little cover-up and I found me one at Wal-Mart. The pool doesn't open until noon so the plan was for me to be done with my errands yesterday morning in time to be at the pool by noon. Well, that didn't work out so well, which was ok because I'm sure it was really crowded then.

We ended up not getting there until right at 2 and there were quite a few people there but not real bad, and we were able to find some chairs under a pavillion by the kiddy pool so it was shady. We all got coated with sunscreen and took off for the water! I bought Grace some floaties but they didn't work very well so we ended up taking them off and one of us just held her. The best part about their pool was that the big main one starts out like a beach where it's just super shallow and you can just sit in it then it gradually slopes to the deep end, which is still only 5 ft, so Corey and I hung out a lot up there while Colt and Grace walked and swam back and forth. It was perfect for her because there was a huge area where Grace could walk and play without having to be held. She absolutely loved it!

Colt got all of his hair cut off yesterday! He got it cut while they were in Florida last week but the girl who did it didn't do a very good job so yesterday he went with me to get my eyebrows done and Salwa fixed it for him! He wanted it short enough to spike on top and his hair hasn't been this short since Gene and I first got together almost 4 years ago. He actually was really pleased with it and I think it looks great!

Corey thinks he's a stud muffin in his sunglasses!! While he and I were sitting in the water this little boy came up to us and asked Corey what his name was. Instead of answering he just looked at me so I told him his name was Corey! The kid floated off to a group of girls who then started giggling and looking over at us! As if that wasn't funny enough, about an hour later the same kid came back up to us and asked how old he was. I just started laughing and Corey, without skipping a beat, said "I'm 18." What?! I just looked at him and started laughing even harder!! The kid apparently believed him because he toddled off and told the girls! The whole rest of the day the girls kept walking back and forth in and out of the water past us trying to get Corey's attention. It didn't work. He wasn't interested, but it was just too funny!

I am absolutely in love with this picture of the kids!! We have very few pictures of all of them together and I was able to get them all to cooperate long enough yesterday to get a couple and this one was the best one! I'll be framing it!

Isn't Grace's swimsuit adorable?! One of my friends from work bought Grace a giftcard to Gymboree for her birthday and when I went to use it they had just put out the summer stuff and I found this swimsuit. Too cute and she just had to have it! Every hour on the hour the lifeguards blow a whistle and everyone has to get out of the water for a 5 minute break, which is a good thing, because it was easy to get Grace out of the water to get more sunscreen on her. Of course as soon as she saw everyone else getting back in the water she'd look up at me and say "I wanna go schwimmin 'gen!" It was quite the struggle getting her out of it when it was time to leave!

I love this one of me and Grace too because of the black and white! I think I'll frame it too! We really did have a blast at the pool and even though it was over 90 degrees outside it was the perfect weather because while you were in the water it was awesome and then when we were out it was good because being wet kept us cool plus the shade was cool!! Mom was going to go with us but couldn't bring herself to get out in the heat. I told her it was perfect though and she's decided next time she'll be joining us!! I'm hoping maybe next week again!

Show Us Where You Live Friday - Master Bedrooms

It's Friday....and you know what that means!! It's time for Show Us Where You Live Friday and Kelly, over at Kelly's Korner, has chosen master bedrooms for this week. Now, I was cleaning house yesterday and sort of went into hyperdrive in our bedroom! My original plan was to just clean out underneath our bed and somehow that turned into a rearrangement. We really only have 2 options as far as where our bed goes and I decided I'd try it the other way. I'm liking it more and more and I think it makes our room look bigger. My walls are still pretty bare but I'm hoping to change that soon!!

Ok, on with the tour. Welcome to our master bedroom! It's right off the kitchen/dining room. Originally our dresser was on the wall to the left as you walk in but now with the bed where it is it looks better on this wall.

I took this one standing in the corner by the bathroom and, like I said, bare walls. Our bed used to be over on the wall you see on the left in between the two windows and it's throwing me off having the picture still there and no longer over our bed. Our bedroom furniture doesn't all match either! The sleigh bed we found at an antique store when we finished the house and I fell in love with it! The night stand and dresser match and Gene had them when he and I got together. The browns on the bed, dresser, night stand, and the curtains don't really match but I actually kind of like it. We're country people, not fancy city people, and it's homey. That's all that really matters to me!

View from the opposite corner of the dresser and our miror. The door to the left of the dresser goes outside to our porch. I love having it there because it's easy to just pop your head out and yell at Aros to quit barking! ha! Only kidding. Sort of. Ahem. Anyways, the picture above our dresser is a collage frame that the boys filled with various snapshots of us. It needs to be updated and I would like to paint the frame, I'm just not sure what color yet.

And this one was taken from the doorway of our bathroom. The treasure chest on the floor in the lefthand corner was mine from when I still lived with Mom and Dad. I got it when I was in high school and it's filled with my diploma, senior and prom pictures, and various items. I really want new bedding for our room I just haven't found anything I really like and is affordable. And I also want new curtains. But ya know...it works and is comfy! I hope you enjoyed the tour and now I'm going to retire to, well....this very room! I have a lot more to blog about and I'm hoping to get it done tomorrow! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and don't forget to check out Kelly's Korner to see all the other tours!!

Overdose of Cuteness

I'll just go ahead and warn you now that you're about to overdose on cuteness!! Today the boys and I have been cleaning house all day and I ended up going a little overboard in our bedroom cleaning and rearranging! While I was working on that Corey and Grace were playing beauty shop!

You can't say I didn't warn you.

This morning while I was cleaning out Grace's toy box she found the little barrettes Granny bought her and she played with them literally all day! She kept trying to put them in Corey's hair but she kept pulling his hair!

I know...precious.

"Ok Mom, enough with the camera."

Trying to sneak up on him.

He's got a new look! I think they go great with the pink barrette!

She is determined to get it in his hair and he's determined to NOT get his hair pulled!!

Back Where They Belong

The boys are back home where they belong! They didn't make it in until about 5 this morning and we were all in bed but I smiled while lying in bed this morning when I heard Corey in Grace's monitor talking to her!! She slept until almost 9 and Corey heard her first when she woke up and went to get her. I was the last one up and Gene was making us breakfast. As soon as the boys walked downstairs all was well again because my whole family was home together!!

They were both getting irritated with me because I kept snapping pictures of them! And while they were gone Colt cut off all of his hair!!

Corey bought Grace a Little Mermaid toy set and she had a blast opening and playing with it! He also got her some Scooby-Doo stickers that have her name on them!! She was waaaaaay excited about those since Scooby is now her absolute favorite thing to watch and we literally watch it all day long!

Remember when I posted about my laundry baskets being empty here? Well, that is no more! I should have taken a picture after they had emptied their luggage and before I started their laundry. Both baskets were heaping and overflowing onto the floor! I got it started and that will be their chore for the day!

Beethoven is on one of our movie channels and since Grace loves dogs so much she's been very intrigued by it. Colt was up in his room playing his piano because he had dearly missed it and the minute Corey sat down in the recliner Grace was up in his lap!

Colt came down to join us and watch the movie. Gene had to go to work so now it's just me and the kiddos...at least until I have to go to work. :( It is my Friday though!!! And my day is so much better now that my boys are home!!!!!

Happy Father's Day!!!!

I want to wish all those dads out there a Happy Father's Day, but most importantly, to my very special father, husband, and father-in-law!!!

This morning Grace let us all sleep in until almost 8:30, which is pretty late for her, and when we got up Gene made some biscuits and gravy for breakfast! Grace gave him his present which was the movie Gran Torino and the Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2009 Wii game. He was happy with both! I took this picture while he was making breakfast and Grace actually cooperated!

This picture was taken the day Grace was born, obviously! And sadly enough, this is the only picture of Gene with all 3 of the kids, that I could find anyways. I've got to start doing a better job of taking pictures. The boys are still in Florida with Gene's parents so they get to spend Father's Day with their Papa but not with their Daddy. They will finally be home on Wednesday morning though!!!! I'm so excited! Gene is such a good daddy and loves his kids more than anything. He would and does do anything and everything for them!!

And of course, my daddy and Grace's Papa!!! Another tragedy, I couldn't find a good recent picture of Dad and Grace together and I couldn't find any on the computer of he and I together. I have an actual picture here of us together but I don't have a scanner to put it on here. I just love this one of them though!! He's such a good Papa and thinks the world of his girls!! Thank you Dad for always doing everything in your power to take care of me for the last 24 years!!!! I love you very much!!

And last but not least, Gene's dad Stan, and the kids! Stan and Jeanette live right next door to us and are always willing to do anything we need and help take care of the kids. Stan spoils them all too, which I suppose is most definitely one of the top jobs of grandparents. My kids are truly blessed with a wonderful daddy and wonderful Papas!!

I love you all very much and hope that today is a wonderful Father's Day!!!!

girls just wanna have fun

Last night was such a nice break from the cruddy week I'd had! I went to dinner and a movie with 4 of my most favorite women! Stephanie, Jennie, Teresa, Mom, and I all met at Noodle's in Fayetteville and had a wonderful Italian dinner and then we went to see The Proposal!!

Wednesday was Mom's birthday so last night we celebrated! We don't ever eat at Noodle's so it was a really nice change of pace. I had a salad and chicken fettucine alfredo and it was delicious but I wasn't able to eat it all! There are so few pictures of Mom and I together that it's really kind of sad but Steph snapped this one of us last night and it actually turned out pretty good!

All the girls waiting for our food! We laughed and laughed and it was so good to hang out and catch up!

Stephanie was the first one to the restaurant and before the rest of us made it there she told our waiter that we were celebrating Mom's birthday so after dinner he brought out this big sparkling bottle and yummy chocolate cake and ice cream!! They even put 5 spoons in it so we were passing it around the table. It was so rich though and since I've been eating better it was a little bit of a shock to my system but oh it was so good! She was VERY surprised...and a little embarassed maybe, but at least they didn't all sing to her!

After we ate we had some time to kill before the movie started but since it was opening night we decided to go ahead and purchase our tickets then make a Target run. Steph is moving into a new house next weekend so she needed to find a, in her words "cute", laundry basket to go in her room! She found one and after our approval bought it! She's so funny and is so excited about moving out! I'm happy for her! Jennie bought her some candy for the movie and Mom and I got Dad and Gene one more thing for Father's Day. Then we headed back to the theatre and it's a good thing because there was already a line formed to get into our movie and we were there 30 minutes early. It ended up selling out right after we stepped into line so I'm really glad we decided to get our tickets early! The movie was absolutely wonderful and hilarious! It's probably the best movie I've seen, in theatres anyways, in a long time. I would have turned around and paid to see it again right then. Everybody in there was laughing so hard and after it was over Mom said we'd definitely have to watch it again so we can hear all the dialogue we missed with everyone laughing! I'm telling you....a very very very good flick! I can't wait to see it again. I didn't end up getting home until about 12:15 last night because we stood outside talking for a long time and I was worn out by the time I got home. It was such a blast though and I so treasure the time I have with my girlfriends!! I have the best friends and I am so thankful for them!!

Show Us Where You Live Friday - Laundry Room

It's Friday again! The weeks are just flying by and I'm not sure I like it! Not that I can do anything about it though. Anyways, this week Kelly, over at Kelly's Korner, has chosen play rooms, bonus rooms, laundry rooms, or any combination of the three. We don't have a play room or a bonus room so I guess I'll share our laundry room!

Our laundry room is right off the dining room which is convenient because I always fold the clothes in our bedroom, which is also off the dining room. I found this "laundry room" sign at Kirkland's and thought it was super cute and it matched our paint color. When I brought it home for Gene to hang he asked me if I was afraid I would forget where the laundry room was! ha! Heavens no, I spend ALOT of time in there with a family of 5!

We bought the Bosch front loading washer and dryer at the same place we bought all of our other appliances and since we bought everything through them and also because Gene was working with a lot of construction contractors at the time we were able to get everything at a discounted price! I absolutely LOVE my washer and dryer, plus the washer only uses about 15 gallons of water per load. Gene bought the white cabinets from Lowe's and then built the shelf to hang in between them to hold all of our laundry supplies.

The bottom cabinet also came from Lowe's and it holds all the dog stuff, owner's manuals for every stinking thing in our house, and various items! Layla's dog food also stays in the laundry room and my mop bucket, cleaning cloths, iron, etc.

Gene made me the hanging rack for the broom, mop, etc. and it's wonderful because it reduces the ground clutter they used to cause! Notice how both of my laundry baskets are empty?! I love it! Although, to be honest, I'm such a laundry freak and I pretty much do at least one load everyday if not two everday. I don't like it to get backed up.

And another view of the shelf with the detergent and fabric softener. Eventually I would like to paint it a bright fun color just so it's different, but for now it works. That's all I've got for this week's edition! It's been a real whirlwind of a week and I just haven't felt like posting about anything else. One of these days I might feel like sharing but not today.

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!! I love you so very much and I wish I could be in Alma with you today to celebrate but I know that Grace and Granny are doing a good job of taking care of you and loving on you!! I hope you have a very very special day and I'm so glad that God chose me to be your daughter! I love you as my mother and also as my daughter's Nana!! You're so special to us and I hope you know that!!!

Love you!

Taylor

Monday, Monday

It's another Monday, which isn't my Monday, it's actually my Wednesday! But anywho.....I'm missing my boys. They've been gone 4 days and won't be home until next Friday. They have already been to Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, and today they are on their way to Florida to visit Disney World. I'm so jealous!! I know they are super excited about going to Disney World though.

Yesterday while I was at work they kept texting me and they sent me a picture of them together and then they spelt out "Love u" with gummy worms, took a picture of it, and sent it to me. :) It made me smile!! I know Corey will get homesick before Colt and he'll start really texting and calling me alot probably the end of this week or first of next week! It doesn't bother me because I was ready for them to be home right after they left! Oh well, I know they're having fun and I'm glad they get to experience all of these things with their grandparents!

Grace, Gene, and I have just been hanging out. Mom and I had planned to take Grace to the Gentry Safari on Friday but the weather decided to get really nasty so we didn't get to do that. Instead, we spent alot of time sitting in Mom's car in the mall parking lot waiting for the monsoon to pass! Finally we just gave up going to the mall and went to eat at Logan's and then both went to Wal-Mart to do our grocery shopping. Grace went home with Mom and stayed the night with her Nana and Papa Friday night and I came home and unloaded my trunkload of groceries! Gene ended up not having to work so a couple of his buddies came out right as I was getting home and we grilled burgers then the guys went fishing. I had the whole house all to myself that night!!! It was fabulous! I went to Blockbuster and rented Taken and if you haven't seen that...you totally should.

Gene didn't get home until after 10 and he finished watching the movie with me and I went to bed. I was supposed to work the pd pancake breakfast at Applebee's Saturday morning but I woke up with a killer headache and ended up not being able to go. Gene was up and out early to go out to Huntsville and help Jake (one of his fishing buddies from the previous night) clean up his land and clear out deer plots so I, once again, had the house to myself until time to go to work! I browsed around on the internet checking blogs and then headed in to work. We got really busy at work at about 5:30 and stayed hopping all night long! I was worn out by the time I left there.

I picked Grace up from Mom and Dad's and we came home to go to bed! I ended up having to call Gene out to do a track on one of the incidents we were on and he didn't get home until right after Grace and I. He had bought Lonesome Dove and had started it before being called out and then we turned it back on after Grace was in bed and I ended up staying up until 1:30 that morning watching it with him and I NEVER stay up like that when Grace is home because she always wakes up so early, but I just love that movie and it had been forever since I'd seen it. Of course, it's 6 hours long so we didn't even finish it until yesterday morning after breakfast. It's a classic though and my dad's all time favorite movie!

Now Gene is at work and I'm fixing to get Grace's bag packed because she and Mom are going to Granny's house for a couple of days! Grace loves getting to go to her Granny's house and I know Granny is excited to see her too!

I hope everyone has a great week!!

Show Us Where You Live Friday - Bathrooms

Well, it's that time of week again! It's time for Show Us Where You Live Friday and this week Kelly, over at Kelly's Korner, has chosen bathrooms. Now, I almost didn't participate this week because our bathrooms are really pretty boring as far as decoration goes. I haven't done a thing in them since we moved in! They are my next projects though. So, without any further ado...

This is the boys' bathroom upstairs. I warned you...boring! They picked out the dark blue rugs and towels when we finished building the house but I have not hung a thing in there yet. I'd like to maybe someday paint it a more fun color and do a theme, but for now it's just this!

A shot standing in the hallway of the vanity and mirror. I love the mirror that Gene found at Lowe's...I think!

And another shot of the vanity. And Layla standing in the hall probably wondering why I was taking pictures of the bathroom!

Ok, this is the master bathroom in our bedroom. We only have 2 bathrooms but it works for us! Like I said, boring, but I'm trying to get Gene to let me paint it. Or, I guess I should say get HIM to paint it! I really want to do a sea blue color and go with a beachy theme. We'll see what happens.

A view of our vanity and mirror. I love our vanity because it's taller than normal vanities so 1) it helps keep Grace away from things she doesn't need in and 2) I don't have to bend way over when I'm washing my hands or brushing my teeth! Of course we have to have the radio. I don't think Gene can take a shower without music!

Our shower. Lordy, even our rugs are boring! I really need to get some bright colored ones, I just haven't had the extra finances to get them. Anways, I love our shower too because it has the 2 seats in it...which I don't actually sit on but it's convenient for holding shampoo, body wash, etc. Plus I use it to prop my legs up on to shave them!!

Our tub, which is absolutely fabulous! It has more jets than most because the bottom is lined with them to circulate hot air to keep your bath water hot!! It's delectable! Of course, I really don't take that many baths. Grace uses it more than anybody else and it's filled with her bath toys, you just can't see them! If we end up painting, or even if we don't, I'd like to get a big picture of a white beach chair sitting on the beach to hang over the tub.

The vanity from the shower. And of course Grace's potty chair. I guess I could have closed the lid on it before pictures! ha!

And a final shot standing on our tub! I would like to get some shelving to hang over the tub and some other smaller pictures to put on the wall with the towel rack.

Alrighty, that's it for the Johnson household bathrooms! I'm sure you enjoyed the tour and now I've gotta take a lawn chair to my husband who is currently fishing with some buddies!!