Bikes, Blues, & BBQ!!

I've finally had time to get some pictures put on here and post about Bikes, Blues, & BBQ. We had a really good time, and I'm so glad it worked out for us to be able to go! Gene and I were wanting to watch the parade that started at 4 but we got home about that time to change clothes so we didn't get to see it. However, on our way down to Dickson on College we got caught in some of the parade! It normally takes about 10 minutes, at the most, to get to Dickson from our house. Not Saturday. It took us about 25 minutes to make it downtown. It was just a sea of motorcycles and traffic!! It's amazing how many people come in from out of town for BBBQ.

We finally made it to the light to turn onto Dickson and worked our way down to the end. I don't know how many of you have been to BBBQ, but every year people just ride up and down Dickson on their bikes. I mean, they will literally just make loops back and forth, up and down showing off their bikes! Gene and I just rode down once and made it up to about Jimmy John's where there was an empty spot so Gene told me to hop off so he could park since we actually find one so close! We were out walking by about 4:30 or so, and there were just so many people there it's crazy. There were tons of vendors set up trying to sell stuff and displaying bikes.

We started off just walking up Dickson looking at all the bikes. We came across this one that was awesome. It's obviously a custom and everything but the frame is leather. The seat, the gas tank, the fenders, everything! It was so cool looking, and it had the owners name I guess etched into it. The one sitting next to it on the right is similar to it. It's amazing how many different types of bikes there are and how custom they are.

Here is Gene and I standing in front of the Walton Arts Center watching everyone pass. Steph made it there a little after 6 and hung out with us! Let me tell ya something, it takes all kind of crazy people to make this world go round! We saw so many very interesting characters!

This is a view looking east up Dickson towards College. As you can see there's so many people it's hard to even walk. Not only that, but you have to be careful walking along the street side because there are bikes one after another parked and some are over the sidewalk so you have to watch your step so you don't knock one over! You knock one over, and it'll be a domino effect! That would not be good!

Me and my bestest friend, Steph! She's Grace's Aunt Stephie! She and I have been best friends since we were in 8th grade, and have been through soooooooo much together. She's the sister I never had. My parents (and grandparents!) claim her as their own and her parents claim me as their own!

This was a really cool bike we saw riding up and down. It sas Hollywood on it on the other side of the guy's leg and then it has a picture of Marilyn Monroe, and I can't remember now who the guy was beside her. It was really neat. We also saw a trike that had a custom red, white, and blue American flag paint job. Super cool!

And here's a view up Dickson after dark. I had a few other girlfriends that were going to meet up with us but stuff came up and not everyone was able to come. Gene had to leave around 9 or so because he had to work yesterday morning so he had to be up early. Jennie (Steve's wife that we took our trip with), Rhonda (Bill's wife...another friend of Gene and Steve's), and Diane (Jennie's best friend) all met up with us right as Gene was fixing to leave. Us girls just walked around and visited and ate and laughed until about 12:30! We had such a good time! Of course Jennie and I had spent lots of time together on our trip and we still ride with them some so we knew each other really well. Rhonda I had met several times but hadn't ever really got to hang out with her a lot. She is HILARIOUS!! Diane I had never met before, but she was super sweet and very personable. We all clicked together!

I am so glad Mom and Granny were able to keep Grace for us! Thanks Mom and Granny!! We had a blast, and I'm already ready for next year! Hopefully next year we'll have more opportunities to go and we can do some more actual riding. If you've never been, you should definitely check it out next year.

That just about wraps that up, and Grace is wanting her Mama to hold her so I'm going to oblige!

Talk to you soon!

Updates

First, I want to start off by saying thank you so much to Leah and Shelly for the sweet comments you left on my previous post. It was very sweet of both of you. Shelly, you just about made me cry!! Good tears, not bad! I know we haven't ever had the opportunity to really spend time together, but I feel like we're great friends and it makes my heart happy!

Second, I would like to say that yesterday was a MUCH better day! Grace went down to bed fairly easy Friday night and didn't wake up until almost 9 yesterday morning! Thank goodness. I felt so much more rested.

Now, Granny (my sweet Granny that is photographed above with her sweet great granddaughter) is doing soooo much better! Mom ended up taking her to the emergency room Friday night because they never could get an appointment with her doctor. Mom said they were in and out of there in only about 2 hours, which is another blessing. They did x-rays and the er doctor said that she had not broken any bones, very good news, and that she just had some pretty bad sprains and some bruising. He prescribed her some pain medication and sent them home. Mom said she gave her some pain medication and she laid down pretty early that night and slept, for the most part, soundly through the night. Mom said she did hear her up at one point in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, but she was able to make it in there on her own! That is awesome, because Friday Mom was having to help her get around because she wasn't able to put any pressure on her left leg.

When we woke up yesterday morning Gene made breakfast.....again! I think he was afraid to let me get back in there yet, ya know, fresh wounds still! Ha! He made yummy omelets (Grace now knows how to say omelet!!) and a GOOD pot of coffee. After we ate I was racking my brain trying to figure out someone I could call to keep Grace for us last night so that Gene and I could go together to Bikes, Blues, & BBQ. Dad had told Mom he could watch her but he's not entirely confident in watching her by himself for long amounts of time. That, and I knew it would be late before we got home and I didn't want him to have to worry about that, plus my parents live 20 minutes away from us so I also knew I wouldn't want to drive all the way out there to get her and then all the way home.

So, I had talked to Steph on Friday and she had volunteered to keep Grace while we went to Colt's recital at 2. I was already planning on utilizing her!! I was going to call my mother-in-law to see if they could keep Grace last night, but they have a bike too and had been down to Dickson every night so I figured they would be again last night. I went ahead and called just to see, and they did already have plans to go back down. There goes that idea! I had pretty much decided I was just going to stay home. Gene told me he would stay home with Grace, but I told him it wouldn't be as fun without him. That was part of my wanting to go...on the bike....with him!!

Anway, so I called Mom after we ate breakfast and we were talking and she was filling me in on how Granny was feeling much better, and was able to get around by herself more with just holding on to things for leverage. Her leg still gives on her some if she's not careful. So, she asks how things are here and I'm telling her how I couldn't figure out anyone to keep her and then she said just bring her down here! I said OK!!! I had already thought of that, but I knew the last thing they needed was Grace getting under foot while she was trying to help Granny get around. Mom said that Granny didn't need her much to walk and Granny, of course, was excited about seeing Grace. Now 3 weekends in a row Grace has got to spend the weekend with her Granny!!

I was sooooooooo excited! I told Mom I just needed to take a quick shower and get some things together for Boo (Grace's nickname) and we would head down. It was 10:20 when we hung up, and we were in Alma by 11:50!! Not only was that out of excitement, but I also had to hurry up and make it back in time for Colt's recital at 2.

As I was pulling up to Granny's, there was a white van in the driveway. I recognized Shirley (a local flower lady and friend of the family) standing on the front sidewalk talking to Mom. After I got Grace out of the car seat we stood for a few minutes talking to her, and she was going on and on about how cute she is!! We went inside and Grace was so excited to see Granny, she ran right over to her and lifted her arms up for her to pick her up.

Mom was also excited to see her baby girl! I stayed for just a little bit visiting because Courtney came over to see Grace and help out, and she had her pictures with her from Hillary's wedding. So, I stayed long enough to look through them. I was pushing it making it back on time. I would have been doing fine, but I got stuck in traffic down by the Randall Tyson Track Center. I should have known better than to go that way, but it wasn't bad at all when we were headed down. Who know an hour could make such a difference!

I had enough time when I got home to change my clothes and throw on a little make-up and we were off. Colt did sooo awesome! He didn't mess up any and was one of the best players there. I think there were like 12 total. His teacher was bragging A LOT on him before he started playing, and after he finished playing! We were very proud.

After the recital, we headed back home to get the bike. Once again, we were only home long enough for me to change my clothes...again, and touch up my make-up, then we were off to Dickson! I took some pictures, but my camera is still in the saddlebag on the motorcycle and it's next door at my in-laws in the shed so I'll get back on tomorrow and post them and tell you all about that!

Right now I've gotta call Mom and check on all my girls, then take a shower and get ready for work. Yuck!

Not a Great Day

This has not been a very good day. It started off bad when Grace woke up at 4:30. Gene had fallen asleep upstairs so when I heard she was awake I went up to turn the tv off. Once I got up there I could see under Grace's bedroom door that she had turned on her closet light. I've already had to move her crib once because she got tall enough to reach the light switch. She's obviously had another growth spurt, because she can reach it again now. I was not excited about my findings, and I knew there was no way she would go back to sleep as long as the light was on.

I went in and got her and brought her downstairs. We tried rocking for a little bit, but I knew that wouldn't get us anywhere. She wasn't planning on falling back to sleep yet. I finally just put her in bed with me. Even after we laid down it took her a while to go back to sleep. I'm pretty sure I was asleep before her.

Gene had to take Colt to scool this morning because the band had to be there early for Homecoming activities. When Gene got home he came in our room to use the bathroom, and when he opened the door to come out Grace woke up. He picked her up and they went upstairs to watch tv. We all 3 ended up falling back to sleep for about an hour and a half.

Of course Gene and Grace woke up before me and of course they had to come in and wake me up. Gene kept pestering me and telling me I needed to get up and make breakfast. I was not ready to get up. I did though and started breakfast. We didn't have enough sausage left for more than one person so I didn't even mess with it, I just made some biscuits and scrambled eggs. I also made a pot of coffee. Our coffee pot is not the best. You have to put the pot on just right to keep it from messing up. Of course today would be a day that I messed it up.

I sent Grace in to get Gene out of bed. He walks into the kitchen and says "I guess we're having scrambled eggs" and just gives me a weird look. I let it go. He then walks to the coffee pot and starts to pour a cup. He makes some comment about how I didn't do it right. I let it go. He then makes another comment about the coffee. He walks over towards me and puts his hands out like he's going to touch me. I officially start an emotional breakdown. After going off on him about how he asks me to make breakfast and then it's not good enough. Embarassing. I must say that now, looking back, his comments were not meant to be rude in any way and that they were merely observations. I begin to cry. Embarassing. He instantly feels like crap. I can't speak for about 3 minutes. He grabs me and starts hugging me and telling me to calm down. Sweet right? Yea, I have no idea why I was so upset, but I was. I don't know what was wrong with me.

He makes us a plate and we eat. I'm better by this point. Not great. Just better. Grace gets her plate first, and by the time Gene and I sit down she has all but finished her 2 scrambled eggs. Hungry girl maybe?!

After Grace finishes her food, she's ready to get down and scope out Mommy and Daddy's. Gene loves apple butter (only apple butter from Silver Dollar City). Grace now loves apple butter as well. Gene had some on his plate that he was eating with his biscuits, and I had scooped some of my eggs into Grace's bowl because the child was still hungry. She starts saying "dip." Meaning she would now like to "dip" her eggs into the apple butter. Gross. She loves it!! Here is Daddy "dipping" for her so that she doesn't wear the apple buter.

Yes, that's the adorable man that I yelled at. They're too cute for words really.

Taking a break long enough to stick the tongue out for the camera.

She's been tired all day from her night of not so good sleep. She actually let Gene hold her like that for a while swinging her back and forth. She was on the verge of going back to sleep. Then she realized just how on the verge she was, and she was back down. No time for sleep people.

Ok, so I know I mentioned before that Grace was going to stay at her Nana and Papa's this weekend because we have a lot of activities going on. Well, Granny has not felt good the past 2 weeks. She went to the doctor not long after it all started and was told to come back in 2 weeks if it wasn't any better. She decided yesterday it wasn't any better and was calling the doctor this morning.



My phone was on vibrate overnight and I hadn't turned the ringer back on. I checked my phone and had a missed call, new voicemail, and a new text message. All from Mom. Not necessarily a good thing. The message just says to call when I wake up. I call. She answers, and I ask her how she is. She's good. Granny's not. My heart drops. She fell this morning in the bathroom, and called Mom around 6:15 to tell her. Mom gathered up some things and headed for Alma. When I talked to Mom she had called the doctor's office to schedule an appointment, and was waiting on a callback. Mom was becoming very impatient because it had been 2 hours. Granny's left leg was hurting her really bad and she could hardly walk on it. Of course Granny can't be home by herself in case something else were to happen. So, Mom is down there until they figure out exactly what's wrong and what the healing process looks like.



I was upset when I got off the phone. Upset because I'd already had a not so good morning. Upset because Granny's not feeling good...at all. She's supposed to be Super Granny! Upset because my babysitter is an hour away. Not only was I upset about everything else going on, but I was upset about being upset. I was mad at myself for being upset that my plans for Saturday night now had a hink in them. I felt guilty, because I know as well as anybody else that Granny needs Mom down there with her and I was being selfish.



Gene left to go to they gym so Grace and I went upstairs to watch tv, because as I mentioned in a previous post, our big tv downstairs is broken. We hung out up there pretty much all day. Gene was only gone a couple of hours, and he came upstairs with us. The UPS guy came and dropped off our new bulb. Gene came down and put it in, and voila, our tv was working again! Corey got home from school, and we were all sitting down watching CSI:NY when the tv screen goes black. Again. Yes, that bulb burnt out 45 MINUTES after we put it in. Did I mention I was not having a great day? There goes $41 down the drain. There is a one year warranty, but they will just give us our money back...not replace the bulb. So, we'll probably only get about $26 back after shipping it back. Gene came to the conclusion that there must be something wrong with the tv that is burning it out because it wasn't making sense. He called a tv repair place, but we're both broke right now so it'll be a while before we can get it fixed. Gene hasn't been working construction because they don't have a job right now. Not having that extra money is definitely affecting us.



So, Grace and I are now home alone because Gene and Corey just left for the football game. I knew Grace would wear out quick and the temperature will probably get a little cool once the sun goes down. So, it's a girls' night here. Hopefully she'll go to bed semi early and I can too to catch up on some lost sleep from last night.



I really don't want to sound any more selfish and horrible than I already have, but I'm asking for your prayers. Prayers for my attitude, and that I will be able to look at the positives instead of focusing on the negative. Prayers for my faith, not because I've lost it, but sometimes it gets shaded and I lose sight of it a little bit. It's hard sometimes. And prayers for our finances. Gene and I were just having the discussion about what things we could cancel and cut back on to start saving money until he's working construction again.



If you're still with me, I thank you for your time and your thoughts. I'm off now to take care of motherly duties.

3 Day Weekend

Today was a good day for me. Gene got up with Grace around 8, then I got up about 8:45 and ate breakfast. Gene went and rode with some friends this morning so Grace and I lounged around upstairs watching tv. I think I've failed to mention that the bulb on our tv is currently burnt out. We bought a big nice Samsung HD rear projection tv last year when we finished the house. I love the tv, but it uses a very expensive bulb. We bought it last March and this past June it burnt out the first time. Not a big deal I guess, but they cost $220. Yea, that's a lot of money for a stinking bulb. Well, about 3 weeks ago it burnt out. Not good! Gene called Best Buy, which is where we bought the tv, and he also called Samsung and the manufacturer of the bulb trying to get something done. We were not happy about the fact that this one only lasted 3 months. No one that Gene talked to was willing to do anything about it, and to top it all of they were all incredibly rude and lacked customer service skills. Needless to say, Gene has not been happy with them lately. It stinks because obviously we can't watch tv downstairs so we've listend to the radio.....a lot!

Gene was able to find a used bulb on e-bay and bid on it and won! They shipped it the first part of the week, and it only cost $41 with shipping and everything. Plus, it has a one year warranty as opposed to Best Buy and Samsung's 30 day warranty. Much better! It's supposed to be here tomorrow! Thank goodness! I am a HUGE Dancing With the Stars fan, but I work on Monday and Tuesday nights so I'm no able to really watch it. Last season we had just got our DVR so I was able to record it. I was very upset this week when I couldn't DVR it. Not a problem now!!

Back to today, Grace and I hung out upstairs from about 10:30 to 3! We kept switching back and forth from Dora to The Backyardigans to CSI: NY. Funny huh?! Grace loves Dora and The Backyardigans so while they were on we watched that, and when they were over I would switch back to CSI:NY. I had only ever seen one episode of CSI, but I am officially addicted now! Spike has been running an all day marathon like all week so I watched at least part of several episodes today. It's so good!

Grace and I did fall asleep at one point for about 45 minutes and then we ate lunch and lounged some more. I had full intentions of cleaning my house all day, but couldn't muster up the energy to get it done! Finally at 3, I decided it was time to go down and empty the dishwasher and switch out laundry because I'd heard both washers beep that they were done. I then cleaned till about 6. The boys got home around 4 and Gene had made it home just before them. I got a lot of cleaning done. Tomorrow I need to clean my bedroom and bathroom but that's it and the whole house will have been cleaned! Yay!

Tomorrow after I finish cleaning I need to load Gene's truck up with some stuff to take to the police department for our Rummage Sale next Saturday. Speaking of which, if you have anything you want to get rid of you can bring it up and donate it to the pd for our sale. We're using it as a fundraiser for the benevelont fund. If you're interested you can just drop it off at the pd and we'll take care of the rest!

Grace is staying with her Nana and Papa tomorrow and Saturday night because we have a lot of activities going on that Grace would not sit through! Greenland's Homecoming is tomorrow so that will be a long night at the football field and Grace gets way too restless way too fast, plus I'm afraid it will get a little chilly by the end of the game. The band is marching so of course we have to be there!! Then Saturday Colt has his piano concert at 2, but has to be there at 1 to practice. Grace would certainly not sit still....quietly throught that either! The boys are with their mom this weekend, so Gene and I are going down to Bikes, Blues, & BBQ Saturday night! A big group of my girlfriends are gonna meet us up there and we're all gonna hang out. I'm super excited!!!

Grace is getting really crabby and sleepy so I'm off to find a paci and put her to bed! Have a good night!

"Come on Grace, it's time to get out of the bath..."

I find myself repeating that phrase over and over every night after bath time. Grace loves her bath time. She does not love getting out of the bath. Every bath time, after I've washed her good from head to toe I let her sit and play in the water until it all drains out. Her new thing is to lay down in the tub trying to get under what water may or may not be left in it! As you can see, last night there was no water left but bless her heart she was sure trying to find some!

Booty shot

Big grin!

She is such a mess! She used to throw a FIT every time I got her out of the bath. She would kick and scream and cry half way through lotion and pj's....it was getting very frustrating. I have learned a new trick.

"Come on Grace, it's time to get out of the bath."

"NO!"

"Ok fine, I'll just leave you in here by yourself."

(Turn off the light and walk out of the bathroom for about 10 seconds, then walk back in.)

"Are you ready to get out now?"

She nods and is already climbing out of the tub!!

Ha! It's worked every time so far. Now I'm just waiting for her to call my bluff!

"CHEEEEEEEEEEEESE!!!!!"

Last night Grace wore her new nightgown that Aunt Cathy and Megan brought her from Atlanta. After I got her lotioned up and dressed I told her we were going to take her picture for Aunt Cathy and Megan. She turned around to me and just said "Cheeeeeeeeese!!" So cute. She didn't really used to be one for pictures, and would never sit/stand still for them but now every time she sees a camera she starts saying "cheese."

My little princess

I know...precious right?! What's even cuter, is that her little gown matches her princess blanket she uses for cover in her crib. She was all matchy matchy last night.

I was so tired last night after work, and it seemed like a really long night. By the time I got home from picking Grace up at Mom and Dad's it was 11, and after bath and rocking it was midnight before I laid her down. I didn't read long last night because I was too tired. She woke up about 8:30 this morning and now we're upstairs watching cartoons!

Grace goes to her Mimi and Papa's (Gene's parents) today, and I'm having lunch with Brittni, one of my best friends that I don't get to see very often. Brittni's son, Jace, is one month and one day younger than Grace! It was so crazy because she and Steph were my absolute best friends through high school, and Brittni got married in December of 2003 right after we graduated and I was one of her bridesmaids!! For the first 3 semesters of college at NWACC she and I ended up having at least one class together so we still kept in touch. After we stopped having classes together we kind of lost touch for a while because we were so busy with work and stuff and our paths didn't really cross anymore.

Anyways, we would talk every couple of months or so, but I hadn't really talked to much after Gene and I got together. Long story short (kinda!), she called me one night at work and I was about 20 weeks or so pregnant but I hadn't talked to her since I found out. Horrible I know! So, we're talking and she's asking me what's new with me and I tell her I'm pregnant, and she says
"No way! I am too!" She was about 4 weeks behind me. How crazy is that?!?! We have kept in close contact ever since then. She was there for Grace's birth and then Grace and I were there for Jace's birth. It's so neat when you have babies the same time as your good friends! I have more stories about that, but I'll save them for a different post.

So, Brittni and I are meeting for lunch at Spring Street Grill, yummy!! I know it's going to make my day, plus the fact that tomorrow is my Friday this week because I'm off on Thursday. Woohoo!!

Ok, Grace and I are off to watch Dora the Explorer!!! Have a great day!

First Day of Fall!!!!!!!

Yay! Today is the first day of fall...finally. It's my most favorite season and it is finally upon us.

I love fall because it sort of kicks off the holiday season. Now we have Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's!! I love this time of year, and it will be even better this year because Grace is older now and will have a better understanding of everything going on. Plus it's football time of course. I will finally be able to make it to a Greenland game this week because there isn't anything else planned, other than Bikes, Blues, & BBQ but we have 3 other days for those activities!!

The only fall decor I have right now is just a cute kitchen rug that has leaves on it! I bought it yesterday at Wal_mart...it was only $4.88!! I'm going to work on accumulating some more items this year to start a collection.

Did I mention I love fall?!?!

Grace is 19 Months Old!!

I know I just did a post, but I forgot to put in there that Grace is 19 months old today. Happy 19 months sweet girl!! Mommy, Daddy, and bubbas love you!

She creeps closer and closer to 2 years old everyday, and I desperately need time to slow down for me for a little bit!