I thought weekends were for rest & relaxation...

Whew! I'm exhausted. This weekend has got to be the busiest one I've had in a while, and it was even a 3-day weekend. As I've talked about before, I'm on the Springdale Police Department Benevolent Fund Committee and we do fundraisers to raise money for the police department and it helps officers' families in time of need and it also pays for our annual Christmas party and our annual Awards Banquet. We've been having weekly meetings and fundraisers since September preparing for tonight, which was the Christmas Party.

So, Thursday I went with the other girls on the committee to run errands and get stuff together and then went to Colt's band concert that night. Yesterday I went shopping with Teresa to get jewelry and shoes, got my hair cut (which is super cute by the way :)), ate lunch with 3 of my best girls, got a flat tire (my wonderful brother came to mine and Grace's rescue because Gene and Dad were both working and out of pocket), made 2 different trips to the mall, grocery shopping at Wal-Mart and then home! I told you....whew!

Corey's birthday is the 15th so we told him we would celebrate with him last night. He decided he wanted us to go out to eat then go "real bowling!" You see, we bowl alot here at home on the Wii and, truth be told, I always either win or come in second and we give Corey a hard time because he doesn't ever do very good! So, he said he wanted to go "real bowling" so he could put us to shame!!

However, Gene worked construction this week on his days off from the PD and they had to finish the job they were working on this week before they could leave last night. They ended up not finishing and leaving north Bentonville until 6:30. It's an hour drive home from there and Gene was way past exhausted, so we decided that we would just stay in instead of going out. The boys and I ran in to Blockbuster and Tim's Pizza to get movies and dinner before Gene got home!After my flat tire incident Tanner took Grace with him to Mom at school because she is spending the weekend with her Nana and Papa at Granny's house!

So, we ate yummy pizza and let Corey open his birthday presents. We rented the movie Duplicity and put it in first. We all fell asleep. I'm going to try and give it another chance, but it was pretty slow and really confusing, which was disappointing, because the previews looked cute.

We also had some delicious birthday cookie cake!! Great American Cookies has the BEST cookies in the world!! Gene felt horrible for getting home so late and not being able to take Corey out, but we told him that we'd make it up to him next weekend.

This morning I was up early again and in Springdale by 9 to get things set up for the party. We ended up only having to work on it till about 11:30, at which time I headed to Target to try and find some earrings to match my necklace and I wanted to get my nails done! I accomplished both, but the earrings ended up coming from JCPenney's instead of Target. I LOVE getting my nails done and it had been a while since I'd been able to!! I then headed home and watched the movie The Orphan with the boys before time to shower and get ready. That movie was C-R-E-E-P-Y!! Pretty good, but creepy. I loved getting dressed up in a pretty dress, heels and jewelry and posing with my honey!!! The party was a success and all went smoothly! I do have to go back to work tomorrow but I am sleeping in!!! I don't really plan on getting up until I have to get in the shower and get ready!!

Feeling Crafty

First things first....I am just now posting about our dinner Thursday night! Let me just say that it was delicious! Oh my word, we all had it over a baked potato and ate the cornbread on the side and it was just to die for!

I am telling you, that mixture with the potato and the cheese was awesome and such a good cold weather food! I'm anxious to take some leftovers home for Gene and the boys to try and see if they like it! I do know the boys won't like the beans so I'll cut them in half next time I make it.

The cake was awesome too and it really tastes like a pumpkin bread. We did decide that next time I'm going to add walnuts to it and do a cream cheese icing instead of the glaze. The glaze isn't bad, it just doesn't have much flavor. I think with the walnuts and cream cheese icing..mmmmmmm!! You could even just leave it dry and put it in loaf pans and make a bread! It's easy and yummy!

Now, of course, I have to throw a picture of Miss Thang on here! Mom, Grace and I went shopping yesterday at Target, Kirkland's and Hobby Lobby and this little one racked up big time! Which is no big surprise because she always does but ya know! Truthfully though the girl was in desperate need of some winter clothes so that's what Mom and I got her yesterday. She ended with, I think, 8 different outfits, 3 new pairs of pajamas and 5 new pairs of shoes!! I am so jealous, but you just can't beat Target's $4 dollar Circo brand pants and shirts. They are the best and fit her so good! The child is not even 3 yet but she is already wearing 4T clothes and a size 9 shoe! She is just growing too fast. Mom and I were in HEAVEN in Kirkland's because they have most of their Christmas stuff out and let me just tell you, Mom and I are HUGE Christmas people and our houses are always decorated big time for the holiday! I could have spent a lot more time and a whole lot more money in there but I just had to tell myself no! We did get a few things and we also got Granny a few prizes too!

Our last stop was Hobby Lobby because Granny had this glass vase from some flowers she was sent after her surgery. We had to throw the flowers out this week and I told Mom I wanted to do an arrangement in it for her table. So, we ventured into Hobby Lobby and found these artificial flowers to use! I had already decided I was going to slice lemons and oranges to put in the bottom. I got started on it this morning and this is how it turned out! I was very pleased with it, especially considering it's my first one to make EVER!!!

The lemons weren't a very bright yellow but they look alot better in person than in this picture! I've decided I'm going to have to get some more and make one for my house! I've been wanting a new centerpiece for our dining room table as well so now I've just gotta get to work on it! Overall, it wasn't that expensive either. She already had the vase and Hobby Lobby had their greenery and shrubs 50% off so all of them cost about $14-15 dollars and then I used two oranges that were .50 a piece and about 6 lemons that were .38 a piece. Not bad! Plus Granny was very happy with it!!

I have to work today so Grace and I will have to be leaving here in about 45 minutes to head back home up the mountain. :( I'm sad and wish we could stay but I'm also ready to get home and see my hubby and my boys! Gene is leaving tomorrow for a class at the Academy in Camden and won't be home until Thursday so I need to spend some time with him before he leaves!

The Razorbacks play the Florida Gators in the Swamp today at 2 so we'll be calling those Hogs all afternoon and rootin' for another win!!! Whooooooooo Pig Sooie!!!!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!!!!

Four Generations Weekend!!

This is going to pretty much be a picture post with a few snippets about our last few days!

I am enjoying a 3 day weekend and Mom had taken all of this week off to come stay with Granny so I decided Grace and I would also come down to spend some time with them. Us girls usually have a big time together and this time has certainly not disappointed! When we got here yesterday Grace was back in the bedroom and came walking out with a new baby doll Granny got her. It's a bathtime baby so she and a few toys she came with can get in the bath with Grace. She loves it!

The first thing she does is take the little diaper and shirt off of it. I don't know why she can't leave clothes on her babies!

We've spent alot of time out on Granny's new deck and luckily today the weather was beautiful! Last night we went out for a little bit because it had dried mostly from all the rain we've been having recently. Granny started sweeping all the leaves off and Grace decided she needed to take over!

Grace had just woken up from a nap and went to her Nana's lap first and then decided she'd rather snuggle with Granny! I think they kinda like each other!! I love this picture!

I'm pretty sure we may have a photographer on our hands because anytime Grace can get a camera in hers she starts snapping away! She took this one of Mom last night. Decent ones are few and far between. They usually are of her feet or a big blur but every now and then she'll snap a good one! So far the two she's managed to get anything in have both been of her Nana!

She was excited to take a bath with her baby and spent all of bathtime talking to her and scrubbing her clean!

This one was taken this morning while we were sitting outside after breakfast. Grace would literally stay outside ALL day if we would let her! The sun came out today and it was a blessed sight!

The other one Grace snapped of her Nana, and she is going to kill me for posting this on here!! I think it's cute....she doesn't agree with me though!

I really think sometimes my daughter should have been born a boy! She is such a tom-boy and loves climbing on everything and destroying everything!

I had to bribe her with tootsie rolls to try and get a picture with her and this was about as good as it was gonna get! She hates having her picture taken...unless it's her idea!

Granny and Granny Ima enjoying my pumpkin cake after dinner! I'm going to do another post either later tonight or tomorrow about it!

Me and my girl! There are so few pictures of us together because I'm usually the one taking the picture but I had Mom try and snap one of us while I was finishing getting dinner ready! It's the same thing with Mom, I need to get some of them together!

Grace didn't really like our dinner so I heated her up some enchildas my great Aunt Rosie had made! I don't think she realized I was taking her picture because I was looking at her instead of at the camera!

Mom bought Grace some new puzzles and she has wanted all of us to work them with her except we always end up doing all the work! They had been strowed (sp?) all over the living room floor so after Mom ate she was trying to pick them up and it was like pulling teeth to keep Miss Thang at the dinner table eating instead of messing them up!!

So, that's what has been going on around here! Mom is giving Grace a bath now and Granny is already in her pjs settled into her chair. I'm following behind shortly in the pj department and then I'm going to finish coloring my picture! I told Mom earlier that I was in the mood to color so after she took Granny Ima back home from getting her glasses earlier she ran into the dollar store and got me and Grace some coloring books and crayons!! I've been getting in touch my inner child!!

finally making time

I have not been very good about posting lately. It's been pretty busy though and this past week has been all off routine. Grace and the boys were gone all weekend so Gene and I spent some good quality time together!

Saturday morning we got up around 9 or so and Gene made a yummy breakfast. I started my period (sorry if you didn't want to know that!) right afte I got up so of course I started cramping and didn't feel so hot. Gene decided after we ate though that he wanted to take Layla out to Devil's Den. I had no intentions of going but he was able to talk me into it. I'm glad I did though, it was alot of fun!! It rained on us on the way there and I was afraid it would rain the whole time but it stopped before we got out there and was pretty the whole time. The rocks were all slick though so we had to be very careful walking!

Layla had an absolute blast and was loving being in the great outdoors. She would have loved it even more if we'd let her off the leash but I'm pretty sure she would have been long gone chasing squirrels!! If you live in Northwest Arkansas and have never visited Devil's Den you definitely should. There are several different park areas, swimming areas, hiking trails, campgrounds, just all kinds of stuff to do and it's so pretty!! This bridge is right in front of what is sometimes a waterfall if there has been enough rain. Obviously, Saturday there wasn't one.

We also came across this awesome bench they had made out of big cedar trees. It was so neat and they built it to where it faces the waterfall. Further down the trail there was a chair built just like it!! We were out there for about an hour or so and then headed back home. We drove the back way the whole way home and just enjoyed the beautiful countryside and the time together to talk. Gene grew up out here and knows everything about everything about the country!!

After we got home Gene grilled some bratwursts and some squash!! We ate and then showered and went in to see Transformers and it was amazing!!! I loved it and I think it was even better than the first one!! Gene was craving some Shake's ice cream after the movie so he pulled through the drive thru and I just had a small concrete and felt like I was going to be sick because I hadn't had that much sugar in a while!

Mom called after we got home so we got to talk to Grace for a little bit and then I went to bed before 10 o'clock which never happens! Sunday I was back to work and Gene took the boys school clothes shopping.

Grace made it home last night around 6 and I was so happy to see her this morning when she woke up!!! Teresa and I went and ran last night and I go back to the doctor on Monday so I'm hoping I can lose another 5 lbs this week!!

I hope everyone had a good weekend!!

"I don't wanna be big Momma!!"

Today was probably one of the best Fridays I've had in a while! It started off great because I slept in till 11 because Grace stayed with her Nana & Papa last night so the boys and I slept in!! After I finally decided to get up I paid bills (which was not part of the whole best day!) and then the boys and I got around and ready to take Colt to the doctor. After the doctor we got groceries and then picked Grace up from Mom and Dad's. We stayed and talked for a while then had to hurry home to get our groceries unloaded!

After we got groceries put away we all headed outside to play for a while since the weather has been so nice the last couple of weeks. It's amazing how much it changed after the last set of storms came through. It's been in the upper 70s to mid 80s and then in the upper 50s at night but during the day has been so much more tolerable because the humidity levels have been very unseasonably low. So a day in the 80s hasn't felt like it because it's not so humid!! Gene has been gone all week at a class in Iowa (he finally got home tonight...yay!!!) and he asked me last night if I'd been checking his garden. Oops. Not really. So, tonight I got out there and tended to it some. Like I've said before, the only plants that have made it are our squash, tomatoes and bell peppers and we've actually had some really good squash out of it. Well, tonight I pulled one off of there that was, no exaggerating, 2 ft long. It is insane! I'll post a picture of it tomorrow, but anyways, I watered it and weeded some. We couldn't find our sprinkler from last year so I went over the front part of our lawn up close to the house because it was looking a little dry. Of course the boys are boys and decided it would be hilarious to pour a pitcher of water on me. Thanks guys!! They must have not seen the waterhose in my hand and I most definitely paid them both back!! Grace just kept running back and forth through the hose so we were all soaked by the time we went in!! It's all good though, we had fun!

After our water wars we came in and changed and I started getting stuff ready for dinner. I had decided to make homemade pizza and the boys love it because they help make them!! Growing up Mom would make homemade pizza quite a bit and it was always mine and Tanner's favorite! We called it Momino's instead of Domino's!! Our pizza tonight turned out so incredibly wonderful! Mmmmm...it was so good! I made the dough from scratch and we made 2 large ones. They were both half hamburger and half pepperoni, italian sausage, green peppers and onions!! And of course they both had a TON of cheese on them!!!! I was texting Mom pictures of them and I'm pretty sure she was mad at me by the time we got done eating because she wasn't here to join in the festivities. I did tell her I would save her some though!! Corey took some next door to Gene's dad and he said it was awesome and that he wanted the recipe. Score!!!

Corey had requested almost 2 weeks ago that I make a Butterfinger cake and today was the first opportunity I'd had to do it so....after I got the mess cleaned up from dinner I made him one! Of course it's not exactly part of my diet but I did treat myself to a very small piece of it. And I only had 2 pieces of pizza...and I didn't eat lunch today so that was my calories from lunch I didn't use!

I took a shower and gave Grace a bath and Gene got in around 9:30. Grace was very very excited to see her daddy!! She was not excited, however, when I told her that all of her pacis had gone bye-bye. The part I didn't tell her was that Mommy hadn't exactly planned for them to leave so abruptly but we left the last one at Nana & Papa's because Mommy thought we had another one here. Hmmmm....we looked all over the house for one when we got home and there was not one in sight. So....once we realized this we all started telling Grace that she was a big girl now and that all of her pacis had gone bye-bye to help other little babies! After I brushed her teeth before taking her upstairs to bed I said "So you're gonna be a big girl now and not sleep with a paci?" She looked up at me with the saddest face and said "I don't wanna be big Momma!!" Awww..broke my heart and I was really dreading putting her in bed without it. Luckily, she only whined for it a couple of times and that was it. Funny thing though, I was laying down on her bedroom floor waiting for her to fall asleep and I kept hearing her making sucking sounds because she's so used to going to sleep with a paci in her mouth! I smiled and then almost cried. My baby is growing up.

Just A Line...or Two

I don't have any pictures to post of my weekend and I don't really like posting without pictures but oh well. I don't really have a lot to share either! Yesterday Grace and I got haircuts and then we went to lunch with Mom at Guido's Pizza after I picked the boys up from their mom's. Tanner (my brother) works at Guido's and I hadn't seen him in a while so we decided to pay him a visit! Grace loves going to Guido's because alot of the employees know her and love playing with her! It was yummy...of course, but I only had 2 small pieces because I've been eating so much better and was proud of myself for the restraint!

Grace went home with Mom to stay the night and the boys and I came home to clean house. I accomplished all that I wanted to and a little bit more. The boys are such great help around the house! We finally finished around 8 pm and then ran in to Subway to have dinner. Gene was at work till 10 so after we ate we went to Gulley Park here in Fayetteville and ran for about 25 minutes. I would have liked to have gone longer but it got dark on us because we got there so late. It was certainly better than nothing and we had already worked out back and abs at home, which ended up being a mistake. I don't know what I was thinking doing that after I'd swept and mopped and that always makes my back hurt...then I decide to pick back to work out last night. Brilliant. My lower back has been killing me all day today! It was worth it though and I know it'll pay off.

This morning I slept in till just before 11, which felt great, because I'd stayed up late last night watching Australia when I should have gone to bed! I paid bills then Corey and I hit the post office and Wal-Mart for groceries. Oh how I HATE buying groceries. I'm seriously always broke after doing it! Prices have just gone up so much and it's depressing. Especially when you're feeding 5 people...two of them being teenage boys!

We finally made it home and got the groceries unloaded. Gene only worked about 5 hours today and after he got home decided to go for a ride on the motorcycle. Mom and Grace came out to the house and we all loaded up to go swimming. We got there a whole lot later than I intended and only stayed about an hour and a half. I was planning to make chicken enchiladas for dinner (at Corey's request) and they take a while so we didn't get long to swim. It was nice though!

I had asked Gene to put the chicken on to boil before we left the pool and by the time we got home he already had it boiled and all the stuff mixed up! All I had to do was roll the tortillas. They were absolutely delicious and definitely a hit. We had enough mixture for a whole big pan and then a whole small pan. The big pan was all but gone by the time we finished. I showed great restraint once again and had half of what I would have normally eaten!

I got the kitchen cleaned up and the boys and I went to the park again to run. Grace went to ride the 4-wheeler with her papa (Gene's dad) while her Mimi (Gene's mom) walked up and down our road. Gene was exhausted from having to be up earlier this week than normal for work and was asleep when we got home. Stan (Gene's dad) brought Grace home right after we got here and now everyone has had baths and most are asleep. Grace was exhausted and went right to sleep and I'm pretty sure it will be the same story for me!!

This and That

I'll start by saying that I'm feeling better, and today has been a good day! Except for the fact that last night Gene was trying to convert Grace's crib into a toddler bed (due to her climbing adventures...yes there were 2!) and wasn't pleased with how tall her mattress ended up being and it only has one small piece to put up to keep her from falling off. So, this weekend I'm on a mission to either find a toddler bed or find one of those guard things they make for kids and it goes on pretty much any bed to keep from rolling out!

Anyways, Gene didn't feel comfortable putting Grace to bed in it last night so he just put her mattress on the floor in the corner of her room where her crib was and planned to put her on it. Well, Gene has a few issues putting Grace to bed while I'm at work, because as I said in a previous post, we still rock her to sleep (bad I know). She's so used to me rocking her and putting her to bed that I'm not sure she ever really goes sound to sleep with him, and he gets up to quick to try and lay her down and she always wakes up fussing. That's exactly what happened last night....twice he said. He tried laying her down and she woke up screaming. So when I got home from work she was asleep on the couch and he was asleep in the recliner. I was frustrated I'll admit becaue I was tired and hoping I could go straight to bed. Well, of course when I pick her up she wakes up so I had to sit up rocking her till she went back to sleep. She did pretty quick and I was nervous about trying to lay her down, because her mattress was so low. I did it though, and she stayed asleep.

I then was afraid I wouldn't sleep because I just knew that she would start squirming and end up rolling off onto the floor, waking up, and then screaming for me. Another scary part is the fact that she's not quite tall enough to open her door, but I was so afraid she would get it open and then make it to the stairs. I didn't close the gate because she climbs on it, and I was afraid she would be too determined to get down to our room that she would make it all the way over and then fall that far down the stairs. Yikes! She's able to walk down the stairs by herself, just not very well yet. So, I decided that was better.

My worries were in vain because none of those things happened. Although, she did get woke up this morning when Colt was up getting ready for school and started fussing. I thought/hoped she would lay back down and go back to sleep considering it wasn't quite 7 yet. Hello! I didn't go to sleep until 1 this morning, because I had to stay late at work with my supervisor and trainee to discuss training and didn't even get home till after 11 so by the time I put Grace down and laid down to read till I fell asleep it was late. Too late to be up at 7 am. Plus, I'm not a morning person.......AT ALL!

She did not go back to sleep, she did get kinda quiet which made me nervous, but then she started banging on the door and jiggling the door knob. I took off for her room before she escaped!! She was very happy to see me. I think it scared her when she woke up and her room was in disaray and she wasn't sleeping where she was supposed to be.

So, we came downstairs and she talked to Colt for a minute and we laid down on the couch. I turned on cartoons and she laid there for a while. Corey wasn't up because he had to have a physical at 9 this morning for basketball, so Gene woke up about 30 minutes after us and got him up and ready. Gene fed Grace and they took her with them so I could go back to sleep! Thank you honey!

I put in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and laid back down, but I was texting Steph and Mom so it took me a little bit to go back to sleep. I did though, and was woken up when Gene and Grace got home. They left me alone though, and Grace fell asleep I think in Gene's lap in the recliner so I slept a while longer. Finally, I got up and Gene fixed Ramen Noodles for Grace for lunch. I took some pictures of her and posted them because she was so funny eating them. Forget trying to use silverware, she was perfectly content to use her fingers! She loved them, and ate almost all of them! I think it's gross, she gets that taste from Gene.

She's such a terd though when I try and taker her picture cause I kept tring to get her to look at me, and she'd just say "no!" and go on eating. Or she'd just look away. Grrr... Haha! I did get a few good ones though. I just love my baby girl!

Scrumptious!
Notice how she FILLS up her high chair? This just happened within the last week or so.
It makes me sad! Time for a booster seat and a bigger kitchen table!

To touch base about the football game, as you know it was pouring down rain here so the band didn't play or march. Gene ended up having to work late with DTF at the pd, so he wasn't able to get off in time to go. I had already decided I wasn't going to get Grace out in the rain, but she and Corey and I loaded up and had to drive to Bentonville to pick him up! It worked out okay though, because we stopped by Tim's Pizza to get dinner, and it was yummy!!

Today is my Friday!! Thank goodness, even though it's only been a 2 day week for me. I'm ready for a good weekend and a fresh week. Tomorrow I don't really have plans other than going grocery shopping and getting my eyebrows done. We'll probably also go to Target and Wal-Mart to look at toddler beds and stuff. Target is my weakness though, I really have to tell myself no when I go in there! Oh, and tomorrow is PAY DAY!!!! YAY!!

On Saturday, a good friend of mine, Amanda, is getting married so I've gotta go dress shopping that morning! Steph is going with me, and of course Grace and I'm hoping I can talk my mom into going with us!! I miss not getting to see her so much now that she's back in school. Plus, I know she'll be ready to see her girls! So, maybe we'll drive up to Rogers and check out the Promenade, it's been a while since I was up there. I'm sure after that Steph and I will come back to my house and get ready for the wedding. I know Gene's not interested in going, so Grace and Steph are going to be my "plus 1's"!

Ok, I think that's about it. I know there's more, but this has turned into a longer post than I expected. I'm such a gabber!!

Have a great weekend!!

Taylor

Catch Up!

It's been a while, so this is going to be a catch up post! I'll warn you that it may be long, because I've been pretty busy.

I'll start with Friday, which was actually my Saturday. For starters, it was pay day!! Thank the Lord, I was so broke it wasn't funny. Grace and I got out and about pretty early because I had an appointment to get my eyebrows done. I thought my appointment was for 11, but it was actually for 10 so I was an hour late. Oops! It worked out though, because Salwa was able to squeeze me in at 2, so Grace and I drove up to the pd to visit for a little bit.

I had made plans to take Mom lunch at school so we were killing time until noon. We left the pd and went to McDonalds to get some lunch. Mom and I had salads and Grace had some chicken nuggets (her favorite!). We didn't have much time to hang out because I had several other errands to run, so we left after we ate. I had to pick up my contacts, go to the grocery store, and also go to Rick's Bakery to pick up a birthday cake for Colt because we were planning on celebrating his birthday Friday night since I have to work on the day of, which is actually tomorrow! Anyway, I had to get moving because I still had my eyebrow appointment at 2.

I finished all of my errands and made it home right at about 4. I was hoping to beat the boys home so I could sneak Colt's cake in because he didn't know about it. I didn't actually beat them home, but they were next door at my in-laws so I was able to get it in before he saw!

Grace's adorable outfit Friday! Isn't she cute?!?!?!

Anyway, Gene made burritos for dinner and then Colt went upstairs to take a bath. While he was doing that Corey and I cleaned up the kitchen and got his cake out and loaded with candles! We bought him an mp3 player, so I got under my bed and dug out a gift bag to wrap it in!

By the time he got out I was lighting the candles so Corey was trying to stall him. It was pretty obvious we were up to something!! He was excited about the cake, and he let Grace help him blow out the candles. She was funny, but she kept trying to get a little to close to the flame! Hope he made a good wish!!

The cake...I really wanted to order one with piano stuff or music notes, but I didn't get in there earlier enough in the week to have it ready for Friday. He likes tie-dye though, and they had this one on display so it worked. It was chocolate and yummy too!!

While I was at Wal-Mart I bought Grace a potty seat! Oh my gosh, I can't believe how fast she's growing. She was very ingtrigued by her potty while it was still in the box sitting in the living room. I took it in our bedroom and pulled it out of the box to examine and see just how it worked. Grace started trying to sit on it before I had it on the floor!

I took her diaper off and took it into the bathroom, where as you can see in the picture below, she sat!! She actually sat on that thing for a solid 35 minutes. The boys and I sat there with her until she went so she would know right off the bat what it was for. Gene ventured in once he realized what we were doing and watched for a while, but the bathroom was getting crowded. How funny did we look you might ask?! I'll just say....very! Bear was even hanging out in there waiting! After about 30 minutes or so of us coercing her into "pee peeing" or "poo pooing" she finally pee peed!!! Yay! Of course it started playing music when she did, and she got soooo excited. It was really cute. We all just looked at each other like, "oh my gosh, she actually did it!!"

It was a happy moment, we were cheering and she was cheering....all in the bathroom still might I add! Oh, the joys of motherhood. I absolutely love my role!!!! The whole rest of the night, Grace wanted to go sit on her potty. I finally had to close the door so she would wind down to go to bed. I guess that beats the alternative though!

She has now gone pee pee in her potty once a day since then! Mom and Dad and my in-laws don't have a potty seat at their house yet, and I still haven't exactly figured out a plan so we're taking it slow right now. I'm just glad she understands what it's for.

Too cute!

The potty seat actually came before dinner and cake, and to be honest it's driving me crazy that this post is now out of order but I'm not going back to fix it!

Now...after dinner and cake, I put Grace in the bath and then took her to her Nana & Papa's to stay the night! Mom told me while we were at school for lunch that Dad was pouting to her and asked her to see if they could have the baby for a while!! I just wish someone loved my child! So, Mom knew that I was planning on taking Corey to Midnight Madness at the fair, and I would have to be up fairly early Saturday morning with Grace because Gene would have to take Colt to piano lessons, so she said they would keep her! I drove her out to their house and dropped her off and then headed back home to get ready for the fair.

I took a shower and got dressed and then hung out killing time until Steph got there from her birthday dinner with some friends. The boys and I bowled on the Wii while we waited!

Steph got to our house around 9:30 or so, and then we didn't leave until about 10:45. We got there by 11 or so, and we didn't leave until 2:40 AM!! I couldn't remember the last time I was up that late. We had a lot of fun though. It was taking a stroll down memory lane for me and Steph because when we were in high school and the years after before I got married, we were always at the fair. We had a good time reminiscing on old boyfriends and funny stories!! We actually ended up riding more rides than Corey did! I'm glad we went, but I was ready to get home. I was tired, sweaty, and dirty!

I changed into my pjs, washed my face, and crawled into bed. However, it took me forever to go to sleep and I just tossed and turned most of the night. Gene got up around 8 or so and he and Colt left for lessons around 9:30 so I got up and went to the couch and put in Wild Hogs (love that movie) and finally was able to fall sound asleep! I slept for a few hours on the couch, until they got home and I was startled by the door. It was 1:00! It felt so good to lay around and sleep half the day away. I didn't feel very good when I woke up though, a mixture from the late night and very loud fair. I had a horrible headache, so I took some medicine and laid back down.

Gene left not too long after to go to a friend's dad's funeral, and offered to pick Grace up when he got done so I didn't have to get out. Worked for me!! I was planning on cleaning some, and then starting on dinner.

They made it home, and we lounged some more! We had the best dinner that night though....grilled pork steak, mashed potatoes, green beans w/bacon and onion, corn, and mac n cheese!! It was sooooo good! Grace even ate a whole little plate full. After a full belly and baths, we all went to bed early!

Sunday I was signed up to work overtime on dayshift, so I was supposed to be there at 10:00 am. Well, I kinda forgot about it and didn't set an alarm. Kara (dayshift supervisor) called my cell at oh.....10:10 asking if I remembered I was supposed to be there. OOPS!! I felt soooo horrible. I knew I had signed up for it, I had just felt bad on Saturday and forgot to set an alarm. I rushed around and made it there in about 30 minutes. It was a long day though, because it was still 11 1/2 hours. Yuck.

I ended up having to go in at 10:00 this morning too, because I was on call today and Christina (dayshift dispatcher) was hospitalized with severe abdominal pain Sunday evening so dayshift was shorthanded. I was it, so in I went again! It wasn't too bad though, because I was able to leave at 7:30 tonight. I was tired, and hadn't been able to spend more than about an hour with Grace today and yesterday. I was glad to get out of there. I went and picked up Grace from Mom & Dad's and came home. She got a bath and went to bed shortly thereafter. I took a shower, and now here I sit. I knew this was going to be a long post because I had 4 days to catch up on, and I just want to say thanks! if you're still with me.

Hope everyone had a great Monday!

Taylor

P.S - I didn't proof read this, so sorry if there are mistakes or rambling sections!!

TGIF!!

My Kiddos!!

Yay! It's my Friday! I forgot to tell everyone that my days off are switching this week, so now I'm off on Fridays and Saturdays.....so exciting. Gene's days off switched this week too, so now he's off on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Lucky guy, I know! So, we finally have a day off together so we can spend time together. Plus he'll have a day to sleep and rest now as opposed to working 7 days a week.

So, Gene was supposed to work construction today but he slept in because didn't sleep good all week. He's had a long and rough week at the PD this week too. He woke up this morning about 9:20 and went and got Grace out of bed. Of course they had to come wake Momma up! It's ok though, because he was making us breakfast. Grace has enjoyed her daddy being home with her. She's cuddled with him more than me today. :( It's cute though!

Grace and I watched The Backyardigans and The Wonder Pets while he was cooking! Grace has grown fond of The Backyardigans! It's actually a really cute one, and it doesn't get on my nerves. Ha!

It's throwing me off a little bit that I have to go to work today, but I'm excited because my dear friend, Ashley Rogers moved back from California and starts back to work on my shift tonight!!! He started yesterday, but had to work 8 to 4 so he could fill out all the paperwork and insurance stuff. I'm really happy that he's back home. Love ya Ash!!

I'm leaving for work a little early today so I can go by Rick's Bakery and order a birthday cake for Coltster! His 15th birthday is next Tuesday the 26th, but I've gotta work so we're going to grill tomorrow night and I'm surprising him with a cake! I'm hoping they can make one with some sort of piano decorations or music notes or something. One of these days I need to make a video of him playing piano and post it on here so you can see how incredible he is!

I've also agreed to take Corey to Midnight Madness at the Washington County Fair tomorrow night from midnight to 3 am! Yikes! I've not been up that late in a long time, it could be interesting. Gene took the boys last year, and he said he really didn't want to go again this year but Corey had already asked if he could go. I told Gene I'd do it this time, and he could stay home with Grace. I roped Stephanie into helping me though! We used to go to the fair every year when we were in high school, so we'll act like kids again!! I'm actually really excited to get to hang out with her for some girl time!

Saturday morning Gene and I are going to his cousin's optometry office so I can get some new glasses! Yay! I can't wait, my glasses are getting pretty pitiful. I really need to clean my house at some point too but I don't know when that will happen!

I guess I'll sign off for now and go take a shower! Gene is trying to get Grace down for a nap, so I've gotta be quiet.

Have a great day!

Taylor