10 Years!!

Stephen and were married on November 28, 1998 in Helen, Georgia with both of our families and close friends along with us. At the end of the evening my prince charming carried me off in a horse and buggy ride through town, it was magical.

When we met Brian was 7, Brittaney was 3, and Austin was almost 2. Everyone thought that I was crazy to be so young and take on a family, but I would not have wanted it any other way. Hunter joined our family on February 18, 2005. It has been a long road to accomplish the marriage that we have now, but well worth every challenge that we have ever faced along our journey. In the past 10 years we have learned so much about each other and have grown in so many ways together.

To mark our 10 year's of marital bliss Stephen took me to my favorite restaurant for dinner...Cheddar's in Macon. Because our anniversary fell on black Friday and I was one of the crazy fool's to get out in the chaos, I was not up for much. I wanted a cartridge for my cricut and dinner at Cheddar's and that is exactly what I got. I loved spending my anniversary with two of the most important men in my life, my husband and Hunter. Earlier that morning I spent my anniversary with two of the other most important men in my life Brian and Austin. They went out in the madness with me and look forward to going again next year, we will see about that.

Thank you Stephen for being the wonderful husband and father that you are and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you. I love you with all of my heart!

Thanksgiving Day

I love the holidays. It is a time to be with family and the ones that you love. This year was no exception. We went to my in-law's for lunch and to my parents for dinner. My niece and nephew were able to spend Thanksgiving week with us and I really have enjoyed spending the time with them. Hunter and Kelleigh play so well together. Stephen and I thought things were not going to go so well because you can not have two boss' in the same room, but they have surprised us.

At my in-law's the kids were playing in the leaves and Britt and Austin joined in the fun. Hunter and Kelleigh thought that it was so much fun to throw a piles of leaves on everyone...even Uncle Justin. There is not a sweeter sound than to hear the laughter of children and I love to hear mine laugh.

We ended Thanksgiving night with Hunter, Trevor, Jakob, and Kelleigh roasting marshmallows around the fire that Stephen built for them. The kid's had so much fun catching the marshmallows on fire and then blowing it out. We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving and are very thankful for everything that the Lord has blessed us with.

What a day!

Yesterday Brian had two of his wisdom teeth pulled out. Because the teeth were not impacted deep in his gum the dentist was able to do it at his office. I allowed him to stay out of school and go hunting that morning to relax him and prepare for the afternoon appointment. My neighbor Michelle kept Hunter for me so that I could take Brian to eat lunch at his restaurant of choice. We went to eat mexican and I asked Brian was he nervous and he told me no, as well as everyone else who would ask him and his reply was "No".
As we are sitting out in the waiting room I asked him if he wanted me to go back there with him and he gave me the look and said "no Heather I can do this myself". So I'm sitting there reading my scrapbook magazine and the dental hygienist came out to speak to me. I thought "Ok she is just telling me that it is over and everything went well". Little did I know. She started off by saying "He is fine, but...". My heart just dropped! So she preceded to tell me that his blood pressure got a little high and they had to give him oxygen. I told her that I wanted to go back there with him. When I got to his room he was white as a ghost and was laying there with oxygen on his face. His blood pressure rose to 197/92. They had already numbed his mouth and I asked him did he want to go through with this and he told me yes. I asked them to give him something for his nerves, of course they did, and he never felt the affects of it. So the doctor came back in and was ready to start. I asked Brian again, "Are you SURE that you want to go through with this?" and again "Yes" was his answer. Once the procedure started it took literally 10 minutes and it was over. I sat there with my hands on my face sympathizing for my child who lays in the chair in pain. My mom use to tell her kids I wish I could take the pain because I would. Now I know what she always meant. I do not like to see my kids in pain. Although Brian is 18 and as big as a grown man, it still hurts me to see him hurt. We managed at the dentist and made our way home to get Brian comfortable.
Michelle watched Hunter for me so that I could take Brian and I was very grateful for that. After I got Brian comfortable at home I went next door to get Hunter. When I walked in Michelle, Toby, and Hunter were making get well cards for Brian and having a good time. Michelle tells me "Ha ha your one up on me now". I thought she was talking about her keeping Hunter because we keep each other's kids as often as the other needs it. We both love to keep each other's boy's because they play so good together and actually behave very well. What can I say our boy's are perfect. So anyways, what Michelle was talking about was the incident that just took place. Michelle had stepped out of the room and Tate her 4 month old son, which Hunter loves to death, was whimpering and whining as he lay in his bouncy seat on the floor. Well Hunter being the little concerned one that he is thought that he could handle Tate by himself. He picked Tate up out of the bouncy seat and was trying to put him on the couch when you guessed it....he dropped Tate! Michelle said that it was chaotic for a moment because she was trying to soothe Tate when Hunter goes bizerk. Hunter was extremely upset because he had dropped Tate, rightfully so. When I got there Hunter was still trying to catch his breath from where he was so upset. Must I tell you that Tate is ok, he just got a little bump on his head, Hunter on the other hand is heart broken. Michelle and I explained to him that he does not EVER pick up a baby without an adult being there. He just wanted to help as he explained to me what happened. Last night before we went to bed, keep in mind this was about 7 hours after the incident, Hunter out of the blue tells me " Awe I can't hold babies". I had to explain to him all over again why he can not hold babies. Michelle and Tate I hope that you can forgive us and we can still be friends.
If you only knew what our children have done in each other's home. The messes that they have made. We all still love each other and are very thankful that our families have each other.

Thanksgiving Feast

Today at Hunter's school he had to dress up like a pilgrim and the younger children dressed up as indians. They performed some songs together and then the pilgrims and indians sat down for a Thanksgiving Feast together. The performance was so cute to watch. I love how the children come in to the gym and their eye's are focused on looking for their parents and then they try to focus on the teacher.

All week long Hunter has told me that he did not want to dress up like an Indian and I tried to tell him that he was not dressing like an indian but a pilgrim. It is so hard trying to explain to a 3 year old the difference between an indian and a pilgrim especially since history was not my favorite subject. I even pulled out pictures of sissy from the 1st grade where she dressed up like an indian. His explanation to me for not wanting to dress up was "My friends are going to laugh at me". Since when is a 3 year old concerned with someone laughing at him? So anyway, I told him the night before that Aunt Ashley and Uncle Lyde were coming to watch him sing his song and dress up and he made a fuss over it. Not that they were coming because he loves his aunt and uncle, but they were going to laugh at him. I assured him that they love him and would not laugh, Ashley and I had to convince Uncle Lyde not to laugh before we walked in the gym. Hunter comes into the gym and is all smiles at Mommy, Uncle Yde, and Aunt Ashwey and we are continuously taking pictures of this little cutie. In the middle of a song he makes a mad dash over to his Aunt Ashley gives her a hug and runs back to his spot like he never missed a beat. He just had to get some love to continue his performance.
After their performance they made their way over to the table for the Thanksgiving Feast that consist of turkey, corn, cranberry sauce, cornbread, and pumpkin pie. It was clear as the teacher's were making the children's plate that there were some picky eater's, my child was no different. I can not get him to eat vegetables at home so I thought that maybe he would at least try them at school with his friends. He cut up his food like such a big boy and I told him to try his cranberry. I wish that I was quicker with the camera to capture the face that he made when he put that in his mouth, it was priceless. Needless to say he does not like cranberry sauce, and I do not blame him.

I love this age. It is so much fun to see him experiment with new things and just blossom in to this sweet little boy that he has become. Must I say he was the cutest little pilgrim that I have ever seen.

Bold things that you have done.

Bold the things you've done:

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

40 out of 99 not to bad

Copy, paste and join the fun!

Move it, Move it!

Tonight Stephen and I took Hunter to see Madagascar return 2 Africa. He was so excited all day as he patiently waited on Daddy to get home from work. Once Stephen got home Hunter's patience were wearing thin. Daddy wanted to get cleaned up and relax for a minute, the entire time Hunter continued to ask him "Are you ready to go to the movies?". Finally, Stephen gave in and said let's go. The whole way to the movies Stephen and Hunter kept singing I like to move it, move it...You like to move it, move it. It was so cute. I was a little worried because I took Hunter to see Wall E and I have to tell you I was so bored during that movie, I did not like it at all. Madagascar 2 was hilarious, we really enjoyed it. I love to hear Hunter laugh...there is nothing sweeter.

After the movie we went to dinner at Manhattan's which is a local steakhouse that we love, but rarely eat because it is so expensive. Tonight was a real treat though. We all had a really good time and I love date night's like this. What is better than spending an evening with two of the most wonderful men in my life? Well having the other 2 and Britt there, but there were busy with their friends. Go have a date night with your family and be sure to check out Madagascar 2.

Let it go!

I am so tired of hearing about politics,history being made and all of that garbage. My Dad's side of the family is really big into politics and I personally do not care for it. I know I vote republican and my voice counts...well it is suppose to count. Anyway, I'm not happy that Obama was elected as our next president, but there is not anything and we can do about it so build a bridge and get over it. I had a lot of reservations about Obama, but my friend Heather was able to answer a lot of my questions. She is all about Obama and is very intelligent so thanks Heather for answering my questions!
I feel that with our economy being in such bad shape as it is now is the time when Americans need to come together and pray. People have gotten so greedy and hateful and that is why America is hurting right now. We need to come together as one and pray for our country and the leaders of our country every day...all day. So, let's hope that 2009 will be a better year than 2008 and forget about things that you can not change!

Stephen is the winner!

All of you animal rights activist please do not read any further.








Ok so a few weeks ago I posted how my country boys have started the hunting season, right? Well Stephen is the big winner. On October 24th he killed an 10 point buck. He has been on my case about blogging about his deer so that he can look back at his pictures. Honey, this is for you.
I really did want to blog about this because I am so proud of him, but the pictures that I have are not really good ones because he took them himself. There was another hunter on the property and he took some pictures, said that he would e-mail them to us and we never received them. Noone was at home to help him, but we really did want pictures, so he did the best that he could.

Then on November 5th Brian shot his first deer of the season, a spike. He was hunting by himself and was so happy when he saw this deer in front of his stand, so he took it out. Again, we did not have any pictures of his deer because he did not take the camera with him to the woods. I will tell you that he was so excited!
Hunting sounds so cruel when you think about those sweet little deer. I can assure you that we do not kill babies. The deer in Georgia are so overpopulated that there are so many car accidents because the deer run into cars and people get injured. Our family just helps out the Department of Natural Resources keep the population down.
If you have a week stomach you may not want to look either.

Trick or Treat

Halloween 2008 was so much fun. The evening started out with Lyde, Ashley,Brittaney, Austin, Hunter, and I went to the First Baptist Church with some of Hunter's school friends for the trunk or treat. They had blow up slides and jumping things, a cow train, and trunk or treat. The kids had so much fun on the blow up slide, Lyde even took a turn down the slide (he is a big kid). Then it was time to trunk or treat, so we walked around to all of the car's and Hunter got a bucket full of candy. He had so many compliments on the bucket that his Maw had made for him. As we were leaving the Baptist church to make our way over to the Methodist Church, we saw the Pieracini's which is Hunter's best friend Toby. We made it to the Methodist church and picked up Jessie, which is Brian's girlfriend, and met up with my parents. We all walked down Thomaston Street to trick or treat for more candy. This was our first year on Thomaston Street and I could not believe how many people turn out for the festivities.

After trick or treating Hunter went with his Uncle Lyde and Aunt Ashley to his parents church for the festivities there. Everyone else made their way towards the football field for some friday night football. My parents, brother, myself, Brittaney, and Jessie were walking down this side street (where noone was around) and we could hear the music that was being played at the ball field...so I broke out the dancing. Yes, I was dancing in the streets. I had so much fun embarassing Brittaney and Jessie. The girls tried to pretend that they did not know me and I pointed out to both of them and shouted "Brittaney...Jessie I love you girls". Their faces were so red, I actually think mine was to. I had so much fun making everyone laugh.

The team lost the game to Pike County who is undefeated by a score of 15-22. This was the best game that I have seen the team play. The referee's were aweful! They called 2 touchdowns of our's back, and were not calling plays on Pike county that should have been called. I'm not one to complain about referee's, but they really took the game from us. I am so proud of Lamar Co. though, and most of all I'm so proud of my son and the accomplishments that he has made. At halftime the seniors walked on the field with their parents for one last time and were recognized individually. My mom pointed out to me that we will be doing that next year. My heart just sank. I realized that my sweet little boy will be graduating next year and leaving home going off to college. How time flies. Brian was only 7 when I met his Daddy. I have had the honor of helping his Daddy raise him to be the smart young man that he is today. I will blog more about him at a later blog, but I just want to say that I am so proud of him and his accomplishments that he has made so far and look forward to many more with him!